Durham Bulls Embrace Recent Comeback Efforts

DURHAM, N.C. – The Durham Bulls defeated the Charlotte Knights in the last game of their series 8-7. The Bulls have won their last five of six games of the series, which could be a sign of Durham’s season heating up.

 

The Bulls struggled in the first two innings. Pitcher Drew Strotman threw 26 pitches in the first inning and 50 in the first two. Additionally, he threw six hits and had four runs scored.

 

The Knights pitcher Matt Tomshaw had a relatively good game with six innings and just two hits. But, his Achilles heel became exposed.

 

In 17 innings played by Tomshaw, he has thrown seven home runs, two of which came in the defeat.

 

The Knights capitalized on the uncharacteristically bad pitching stretch by Strotman, scoring four runs in those innings. Yet, even with being down, Bulls fans were doubtfully worried about the outcome.

 

The Durham Bulls have won five of their last six games.  In four of those wins, the bulls were trailing up until the bottom of the eighth. Furthermore, Durham is now outscoring opponents 63-37 in the fifth inning or later and have the best-run differential in the league; + 38.

 

This game was no exception as the home team battled to score five runs in the bottom of the eight after trailing Charlotte by four.

 

This game was scrappy but highlighted the Bulls’ reliance on their talented players.
At the top of the third, Josh Lowe makes a leaping, full-extension catch to save a home run that was inches away from going over the right-field wall.

 

If Lowe had not made the catch, Strotman’s day would have been done and the score would be 5-2.

 

Durham had some players come up short this series. Wander Franco, who has 3 HRs and 12 RBIs this year was 25-3 at-bat against the Knights. His one hit of the game, a triple, sent in Tristan Gray.

 

The Bulls are an insanely talented team with grit and have proven that they have no problem playing from behind. The only question that arises from their play is their consistency.

 

There is no doubt that this was a hard-fought series, in which the bulls convincible won 5-1. Durham has a great baseball club on its hands and how their season plays out is dependent on them.

 

The Durham Bulls (12-6) will now face The Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp for a six-game series. The Bulls lost their last series against the Shrimp 4-2.