Durham Bulls split series versus in-state rival Charlotte Knights

The Durham Bulls remained home after a series win over Gwinnett as they faced the Charlotte Knights from June 11-16.

The Bulls split the series 3-3 after dropping the last two games. Durham outscored Charlotte 26-21 in the series.

The Bulls are now 33-36, keeping them at No. 6 in the International League East while Charlotte remains in last.

The series comes as the second of three series the Bulls will face the Knights in, with Charlotte beating Durham 4-2 in the first series. The Bulls won just one series against the Knights in 2023, tying in the other two.

Despite the lack of success against the Knights as of late, just three years ago, in September of 2021, the Bulls claimed a series win over the Knights, marking some of their most historic wins ever.

On the 14th, the Bulls took the 6-2 win in the first game of the series, clinching their 15th division title in 23 years at the Triple-A level. Following another win the next day, Durham again took victory, downing the Knights 8-6 on the road, clinching the Triple-A East League title. This was the seventh Triple-A league title for the Bulls franchise after winning six Governors’ Cup titles. In the second to last game of the series, Charlotte picked up their fourth of five wins in the series, guaranteeing the best regular season record among all 30 Triple-A teams to claim the Triple-A National Championship, marking the third time in franchise history Durham won the Triple-A National title.

Game one

The Knights had a hot start in Durham, upsetting the Bulls 8-6 in the first match of the series.

The Bulls and Knights both recorded 10 hits in the game and needed extra innings to determine the winner. However, two runs in the top of the 10th for the Knights, coming off an RBI double by Jared Walsh and a sacrifice fly by Rafael Ortega to bring Angelo Castellano home gave Charlotte the win after the Bulls failed to score in the subsequent frame.

Bulls shortstop C.J. Hinojosa and left fielder Heriberto Hernandez led the way in batting for the squad, being the only players with two RBIs and also adding one run each.

Game two

In the second game of the series, the Bulls bounced back well following the initial loss, shutting out the Knights 7-0.

The Bulls outhit the Knights 10-6 en route to their win.

Curtis Mead and Ronny Simon led the way at the plate as Mead put up two RBIs and a run on three hits while Simon had two runs and an RBI on three hits.

Angel Sánchez pitched five innings, striking out four and allowing just four hits. Despite just pitching two innings, Jeffrey Springs struck out three and allowed only a single hit.

This comes as the Bulls’ first multi-run shutout of the season.

Game three

The Bulls took the win in game three, edging out the Knights 4-3.

The victory came in extra innings as Rob Brantly hit a 292-foot sacrifice fly to score René Pinto in a walk-off win.

All three runs by the Knights came off home runs while the Bulls had none.

Simon had three of the team’s RBIs while Brantly had the other. Brantly also had a run.

Enmanuel Mejia only pitched one inning but struck out all three batters in the top of the 10th.

Game four

The Bulls kept the momentum going into the fourth game, taking the 5-2 win starting with a three-run frame in the opening inning.

Shenton hit a two-RBI single on a line drive to center field and Pinto then notched an RBI on a sacrifice double play.

Hinojosa and Shenton led the win at the plate, combining for four RBIs and a run.

Shane Baz earned the win on the mound, pitching six innings and striking out eight while allowing four hits and a run.

Game five

In game five, the Bulls’ momentum slipped as they fell 6-4.

All six runs from the Knights came in the top of the fourth as they put on a clinic in the frame. The final three runs in the frame came off a three-RBI line drive double by Mark Payton.

Mead and Jonathan Aranda were one of the few bright spots in the game, as Mead had two runs and an RBI on two hits while Aranda had two RBIs and a run on one hit.

Game six

The Bulls finished the series by getting shut out in a low-scoring loss, failing to score once while allowing only two runs.

Not only did the Bulls fail to score a run, but they had no hits in the game either. Kameron Misner had two of the team’s only three walks.

The seven pitchers used by the Knights represented the first no-hitter in International League history to use more than four pitchers.

Tyler Zuber and Mejia had good performances on the mound despite short outings. Mejia pitched one inning and struck out two while Zuber struck out three in one inning pitched.

Jacob Lopez pitched for 4.2 innings, allowing four hits and a run and striking out three.

Up next

The Bulls will begin their six-game series against the Nashville Sounds on the road beginning on June 18 and will run until the 23rd.

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