Tides Take Sunday Matinee Over Bulls, 3-2

NORFOLK, VA - The Durham Bulls wrapped up their short two-game set at Harbor Park with a 3-2 loss to the Norfolk Tides Sunday afternoon.

Durham (4-7) jumped out to a 2-0 lead, scoring a run in the first and third innings. In the first frame, Taylor Motter led off with a single, and scored three batters late when Joey Butler singled to left field. In the third Durham doubled its lead, as Eugenio Velez and Mikie Mahtook tallied back-to-back one-out singles. Butler then delivered an RBI double to score Velez for a 2-0 advantage.

In the fifth Norfolk (7-4) got to Bulls starter Dylan Floro for three runs, aided by an error. After the first two batters reached on a walk and an error, Henry Urrutia doubled to right field. Two batters later Julio Borbon singled, driving in two as the Tides took a 3-2 lead.

The Bulls managed just two baserunners over the final four innings, as Mahtook singled in the eighth, and Alexi Casilla walked with two outs in the ninth.

Right-hander Tyler Wilson (1-1) earned the win, tossing five innings and allowing two runs on six hits, while Oliver Drake earned his first save of the season with a scoreless ninth. Floro (2-1) went the distance for Durham, surrendering just the three runs (one earned) on four hits and a walk with three strikeouts. The right-hander needed just 99 pitches, 66 of which went for strikes.

The Bulls return home Monday for the first game of a four-game set against the Charlotte Knights. LHP Everett Teaford (0-1, 6.00) gets the start for Durham opposite RHP Shawn Haviland (0-0, 0.00) for Charlotte. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.