Nathan Lukes Big Night at the Plate on Saturday Catapults Bulls to Victory

JACKSONVILLE FL – Nathan Lukes logged in a productive performance at the dish in the Durham Bulls (31-15) 4-3 win over the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp on Saturday evening. Lukes went 2 for 5 with two singles and two RBI and was responsible for half of the Bulls runs. After the Bulls dropped two straight to the Jumbo Shrimp, they responded, taking the next two games and are now in the driver seat to win the series. Lukes has been a pleasant surprise and a pivotal factor in the wins and recorded an RBI in Friday’s 5-1 victory as well.

On Saturday, the game was tied at 1-1 heading into the 7th inning, and Lukes would ultimately give his club their first lead of the night. The frame began with back-to-back singles from Esteban Quiroz and Brett Sullivan to put two men on with no outs. Vidal Brujan followed by moving the runners to second and third off a sacrifice bunt to the pitcher Brandon Leibrandt. It then brought Lukes up to the plate in a critical situation, and he did not disappoint. He connected on a hard line-drive single to left field, knocking in both Quiroz and Sullivan to take a 3-1 lead. After trading more runs in the 8th inning, the Bulls were able to keep the lead for the rest of the contest to clinch the 4-3 victory thanks to the clutch hitting of Nathan Lukes.

Lukes has been handling both corner outfield spots and has typically hit in the two-hole versus righties and the seventh spot against lefties. Following the departure of Wander Franco, someone in the lineup had to step up, and Lukes is proving that he can potentially be that guy. With the recent resurgence, the 26-year-old is currently hitting an eye-popping .361 average with four home runs, 23 RBI, 21 runs scored, and supports an OBP of .426 in 97 at-bats.

If he can continue his dominance at the plate, the Bulls will be just fine after all and can continue their red hot play during the first two months of the season. Lukes will have to prove that he can have more success versus southpaws, but it is an encouraging sign to see other players in the lineup step up and succeed in high-volume situations.