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IL Durham Bulls

Mead Mashes Bulls to 6-1 Victory Over Knights

September 8, 2023 - International League (IL)
Durham Bulls News Release


CHARLOTTE, NC - Bulls second baseman Curtis Mead smashed two home runs, with shortstop Tristan Gray adding a solo shot of his own, while right fielder Ruben Cardenas clubbed a game-high three hits in Durham's 6-1 victory over the Charlotte Knights on Friday evening at Truist Field.

Durham's win paired with Lehigh Valley's victory on Friday night keeps the two teams tied at the top of the International League's Second Half standings with 14 games to play.

The Bulls struck first with a pair of scores in the second, with Cardenas clubbing an RBI double to the center field wall and later scoring on a sacrifice fly. Mead would then go deep for his first longball of the evening in the fourth, a solo shot, to make it 3-0. After the Knights ended the shutout hopes with a tally in the fifth, Mead would lead off the sixth with another solo blast, this time to right field, before Gray immediately followed with a homer of his own, his team-leading 26th of the season. Cardenas would later lash his second double of the night before scoring on a fielder's choice to cap the three-run frame and up the advantage to 6-1.

Cardenas (3-4, 2 R, 2 2B, 1 RBI) led the way with his three knocks, with Mead (2-3, 3 R, 2 HR, 2 RBI, 1 BB) and Gray (2-4, 1 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI) adding multi-hit efforts. Friday night marked the first time Mead has smashed two homers in a game at the Triple-A level, and first time overall since June 19, 2022 with Double-A Montgomery.

Bulls starter Anthony Molina (5.0 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 SO) earned the victory with five solid innings of work as relievers Ryan Burr (1.0 IP, 2 SO) and Cooper Criswell (3.0 IP, 1 BB, 3 SO) combined for the final four frames, with Criswell notching the three-inning save. Charlotte right-hander Johan Dominguez (5.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 5 SO) suffered the defeat.

The two teams are set to face off again on Saturday evening, with first pitch scheduled for 5:35pm. The Bulls' starting pitcher has not yet been announced, while the Knights are anticipated to give the ball to RHP Chase Solesky.

Durham returns home for their final six games of the 2023 campaign on Tuesday, September 12 to start a six-game homestand versus the Louisville Bats, the Triple-A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds. First pitch of the series opener is set for 6:35pm at Durham Bulls Athletic Park.

Tickets for that game and all remaining 2023 Durham Bulls home games are available, and can be purchased at DurhamBulls.com, or by calling 919.956.BULL.

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International League Stories from September 8, 2023


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