July 3, 2008

Bulls drop final game of homestand, 7-3

By Matt Koizim

DURHAM - The Bulls closed out their three-game homestand on a down note Thursday at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park, dropping a 7-3 decision to the Charlotte Knights in front of a capacity crowd of 10,293.

Charlotte scored two in the first inning on a David Cook two-run home run and tacked on runs in the second and fifth. The Bulls rallied for three in the fifth, but Charlotte pulled away with three runs in the seventh.

Bulls starter Chris Mason (3-9, 6.38) took the loss after going five innings, allowing six hits, four runs and a walk while striking out three. Charlotte’s Clayton Richard (5-0, 2.53) went six innings, giving up three runs on five hits and two walks while fanning seven Bulls.

Nathan Haynes went 3-for-4 on the evening with a triple, a run scored and one driven in to lead the Bulls on offense. Charlotte’s Jason Bourgeois went 3-for-4, driving home two runs and scoring three times.

The Bulls go to Charlotte Friday to begin a two-game road set with the Knights. Jeremy Cummings (7-2, 2.72) is slated to start for Durham, and Jack Egbert (2-6, 5.68) will go for Durham. Game time will be at 7:15 p.m., with coverage beginning on WRJD-AM 1410 and 99.9 The Fan at 6:55 p.m.

Meanwhile, the City of Durham will celebrate the 20th anniversary of Bull Durham Friday at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park as the film’s star, Kevin Costner, will perform with Modern West. Will McFarlane will also perform, and a fireworks display will round out the festivities. Gates open at 5:30 p.m.

---DURHAM BULLS---