Basabe, Durham Bulls Down Redbirds At Home

DURHAM, NC – Bulls first baseman Austin Shenton, catcher Alex Jackson and center fielder Raimel Tapia each bashed home runs and combined to drive in six runs, while shortstop Osleivis Basabe clubbed three hits in Durham’s 8-6 series-opening win over the Memphis Redbirds on Tuesday night at Durham Bulls Athletic Park.

Shenton started the scoring with his three-run blast in the opening frame. After the Redbirds plated a tally in the second, Durham countered with another three-spot in the fourth, highlighted by Tapia’s solo shot to right, before Jackson smashed a two-run homer to left to extend the advantage to 8-1.

Memphis would narrow the margin with a run in the seventh, three more scores in the eighth and another in the ninth, yet were unable to complete their comeback effort.

Basabe (3-4, 1 R) paced all batters with his three knocks, as Tapia (2-4, 1 R, 1 HR, 2 RBI) added a multi-hit effort in his first game with the Bulls after being signed by Tampa Bay as a minor league free agent. Jackson has now bashed two homers over his first five games with Durham after being acquired in a trade, while Shenton has recorded 15 extra-base hits in 22 contests with the club.

Durham reliever Hector Perez (2.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 3 SO) earned the victory in support of starter Anthony Molina (4.2 IP, 7 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 SO), while righty Manuel Rodriguez (1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 1 SO) notched the save. Redbirds starter Casey Lawrence (4.0 IP, 7 H, 6 R, 5 ER, 1 BB, 1 SO) suffered the defeat.

The two teams are scheduled to continue their six-game series at the DBAP on Wednesday night, with first pitch set for 6:35pm. LHP Jacob Lopez is expected to get the nod for the Bulls and is slated to be opposed by LHP Drew Rom.