Bulls Post Second Consecutive Shutout Versus Jumbo Shrimp

JACKSONVILLE FL – The Durham Bulls (15-6) logged in their second straight shutout to defeat the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp (13-8) 5-0. The Bulls pitching staff has thrown an incredible 24 consecutive scoreless innings in the first three games in Jacksonville. The victory gives the Bulls a 3-0 advantage so far in their six-game series.

Joe Ryan (2-2) took the bump for Durham on Thursday evening, tossing five innings of shutout baseball. He allowed just two hits, one walk, and fanned six batters. The strong outing brought Ryan’s ERA down to 4.57 as he cashed in his second victory on the season. He retired eight straight batters through the second to fourth innings until he surrendered a walk to Corey Bird. Following the walk, he finished his evening with a statement by striking out the final three Jumbo Shrimp batters. It was a much-needed breakout game for the 24-year-old right-hander who began the campaign slow in his first four appearances.

Once again, the bullpen was locked in, with Brent Honeywell Jr., Drew Rasmussen, and Adam Conley taking over the pitching duties. The three relievers delivered four additional shutout innings while giving up a combined three hits, no walks, and five punchouts.

The Bulls, even with the shutdown pitching, managed to rack up four runs off 10 hits. Tristan Gray and Ryan Boldt collected RBI doubles, with Boldt knocking in two runners to give the Bulls a 3-0 advantage through five innings of play. Top prospect Wander Franco snagged an RBI giving him 15 total on the season off a groundball. It scored Brett Sullivan in the ninth to conclude the scoring at 4-0 Bulls. Vidal Brujan went one for four with a single and a walk in the contest to keep his average over the .320 mark. 

It is scary that an excellent offensive team like the Bulls is now finding their identity on the mound. The Bulls and the Jumbo Shrimp will finish off their series over the weekend and the staff will look to keep their historic scoreless inning streak alive in game four on Friday, May 28th, in Jacksonville.