Bird & Dunand homer for Jumbo Shrimp in 9-5 defeat
DURHAM, N.C. – Corey Bird and Joe Dunand each homered for the Jumbo Shrimp on Saturday, but the Durham Bulls rallied by Jacksonville 9-5 at Durham Bulls Athletic Park.
The score was tied at five when Nathan Lukes singled against Jacksonville (33-30) reliever Zack Leban (1-1). After a strikeout, Kevin Padlo walked to put runners on first and second. Mike Ford then blasted a three-run home run, his second of the game, to give Durham (43-20) its first lead at 8-5. Two batters after the long ball, Ryan Boldt walked before coming in to score on René Pinto’s RBI double to widen the gap to 9-5.
The Jumbo Shrimp put together a two-out rally in the first inning to take the game’s initial lead. Lewin Díaz singled and moved to third on Lorenzo Quintana’s double. Bird followed with a two-run single to give Jacksonville a 2-0 advantage.
The Bulls put together a mini two-out rally of their own in the bottom of the first. Josh Lowe doubled before scoring on Padlo’s RBI single to halve the Jumbo Shrimp lead.
The score remained 2-1 until the fifth. Brian Miller singled and stole second to jumpstart the frame. Two batters later, Dunand lined a two-run shot over the left field wall. Durham, though, answered immediately in the bottom of the inning on Pinto’s solo home run.
Bird launched his fifth home run of the season in the sixth to put the tally at 5-2. However, in the bottom of the sixth, the Bulls rallied to tie. Lukes singled to start the inning and then Lowe crushed a two-run homer to pull Durham within one. Two batters later, Ford crushed a bomb to right to even the score at five.
Chris Mazza (4-0) earned the win with a perfect eighth inning of relief.
Jacksonville wraps up its series at Durham at 5:05 p.m. on Sunday by sending RHP Edward Cabrera (0-0, 0.00 ERA) to the mound to face Bulls RHP Joe Ryan (4-3, 3.57 ERA). Coverage begins at 4:50 p.m. on ESPN 690 and www.ESPN690.com.
ABOUT THE JUMBO SHRIMP: The Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp offer affordable family fun at 121 Financial Ballpark. Their inaugural season garnered the Southern League’s Don Mincher Organization of the Year, Promotional Trophy and Jimmy Bragan Executive of the Year, won by general manager Harold Craw. The club added its second Promotional Trophy in three years following the 2019 season. The 2021 season marks the return of Triple-A baseball in Jacksonville. To experience the excitement with the terrific value of ticket and group options, call the Jumbo Shrimp at (904) 358-2846 or visit www.jaxshrimp.com.
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