Durham wins 15th division title in 23 seasons at Triple-A level

Bulls catcher Brett Sullivan homered and drove in two runs, left fielder Ryan Boldt bashed a game-high three hits while starting pitcher Ian Seymour fired five scoreless frames as Durham defeated the Charlotte Knights 6-2 to the Southeast Division crown on Tuesday evening, September 14, 2021, at Truist Field.

The win guarantees the Bulls the Southeast Division title, marking the 15th time the franchise has won their division in their 23 seasons at the Triple-A level. Durham also remains 2.5 games ahead of Buffalo for the best record in the Triple-A East circuit with five games remaining. The 2021 version of the Triple-A postseason, titled the Triple-A Final Stretch, will feature all 30 squads playing ten games to complete the season and begin on Wednesday, September 22.

1B Dalton Kelly got the scoring started for the Bulls with an RBI double off the right-center field wall in the opening frame, before two more tallies came across in the second, including a run-scoring knock from SS Vidal Brujan, to make it 3-0. That advantage would increase to five in the sixth courtesy of Sullivan’s two-run shot. RF Josh Lowe’s RBI double to left plated Boldt to extend the lead to 6-0, however Charlotte would end Durham’s shutout hopes in the ninth.

Seymour (5.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 3 K) earned his first Triple-A victory with five scoreless innings, and has not yielded an earned run over his first ten frames since joining Durham from High-A Bowling Green last week. Bulls relievers Colby White (1.0 IP, 2 H, K) and Brian Moran (2.0 IP, 4 K) combined for three shutout innings of support, while Knights righty Alex McRae (3.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 3 K) suffered the defeat.

Durham is set to continue their six-game road series in Charlotte on Wednesday night, with first pitch scheduled for 7:04pm. RHP Tommy Romero is slated to start for the Bulls and be opposed by Knights LHP Kyle Kubat.

The Bulls return to Durham for their final homestand of the 2021 campaign on Wednesday, September 22 to start a five-game set versus the Gwinnett Stripers, the Triple-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves. First pitch of the series opener is set for 6:35pm. Tickets for that game, as well as all remaining Bulls home games are available and can be purchased at DurhamBulls.com.

Thanks to the Durham Bulls for this Capcom story & photo.