Bulls Blank Memphis, 4-0

Joe Rock struck out a season-high 10 batters of seven innings, while International League leading hitter Jake Mangum had two hits and drove in two to lead the Durham Bulls past the Memphis Redbirds 4-0 at Auto Zone Park on Thursday night.

Rock (W, 7-8) permitted four hits and one walk over a season-tying seven frames to win his final start of the regular season. At one juncture, Rock whiffed four straight Redbirds’ batters.

Mangum, who went 2-4 to lift his average to .315, doubled home a pair of runs in the sixth to put the Bulls (36-36) ahead 3-0.

Durham had taken a 1-0 lead over Memphis (33-37) in the second on a Tristan Peters single to right to bring home Rob Brantly. Brantly capped the scoring in the eighth by drawing a bases loaded walk.

Justin Sterner closed out Durham’s eighth shutout of the season with a scoreless ninth inning, including three strikeouts.

The Bulls outhit the Redbirds 12-5 in the victory.

Mangum entered the night four points ahead of both Memphis’ Matt Koperniak and Charlotte’s Mark Payton, both sitting at .309. Koperniak went 1-3 to improve to .309. Payton went 3-4 in Charlotte’s win at Syracuse to jump to .309.

Jacob Waguespack threw a scoreless eighth inning on his MLB rehab for Tampa Bay. Rays’ outfielder Richie Palacios was 1-5 in his rebab assignment, playing the entire game in left field.

The series continues on Friday night with Jacob Lopez (4-7, 4.20) slated to oppose Memphis’ Gordon Graceffo (10-8, 4.72) at 8:05 PM ET.