Bulls Silence Bats 4-0
Bulls first baseman and North Carolina State Wolfpack alum Evan Edwards homered in his Triple-A debut and center fielder Manuel Margot mashed three hits as part of his Major League Rehab Assignment with Durham, while pitchers Mason Montgomery and Cooper Criswell combined for a three-hit shutout in a 4-0 victory
Bulls first baseman and North Carolina State Wolfpack alum Evan Edwards homered in his Triple-A debut and center fielder Manuel Margot mashed three hits as part of his Major League Rehab Assignment with Durham, while pitchers Mason Montgomery and Cooper Criswell combined for a three-hit shutout in a 4-0 victory over the Louisville Bats on Wednesday evening at Durham Bulls Athletic Park.
The victory combined with Lehigh Valley’s win in Rochester maintains Durham’s three-game advantage in the International League Second Half standings over the IronPigs with ten games remaining. The Norfolk Tides will host the second half winner in the three-game playoff series from September 26-28 to determine the International League Champion.
Montgomery (6.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 4 BB, 5 SO) allowed just one hit, an infield bunt single in the third inning, along with four walks over his six shutout frames to earn his first Triple-A victory. Through his first two starts with Durham he has posted a 1-0 record and 0.82 ERA (1 ER/11.0 IP), adding three hits, six walks and eight strikeouts. Criswell notched the three-inning save in support of Montgomery, while starter Alec Mills (2.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 2 SO) suffered the loss.
Margot led off the Bulls order with his first hit of the evening, a single to center, before eventually scoring on DH Raimel Tapia’s sacrifice fly to push Durham ahead 1-0. Edwards, who played for the Wolfpack during the 2018 and 2019 seasons, would then launch a solo shot on the first pitch of his first Triple-A at-bat in the following frame to make it a two-run advantage. Margot would then mash a two-run double to left to double the margin to 4-0.
Margot (3-4, 1 R, 1 2B, 2 RBI) and Edwards (2-3, 2 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI) each collected multi-hit efforts in the triumph. Edwards’ longball was the 213th roundtripper hit by the Bulls this season, setting a new franchise single-season record.
Durham and Louisville are scheduled to continue their six-game set on Thursday night, with first pitch scheduled for 6:35pm. RHP Anthony Molina is anticipated to toe the rubber for the Bulls and is slated to be opposed by RHP Brett Kennedy.
The two teams are scheduled to face off again on Wednesday evening, with first pitch scheduled for 6:35pm. LHP Mason Montgomery is anticipated to get the nod for the Bulls and is slated to be opposed by RHP Alec Mills.
Tickets for that game and all remaining 2023 Durham Bulls home games are available, and can be purchased at DurhamBulls.com, or by calling 919.956.BULL.