Former MLB all-star Brandon Lowe returns, Bulls tie series; Carolina Mudcats struggle

Former MLB All-Star Brandon Lowe returned to the Durham Bulls (45-39) for a rehab assignment this past week, but the Bulls, plagued with an inconsistent offense, managed only a series split with the Memphis Redbirds (46-38).

Lowe connected on two singles in his first rehab game on Sunday.

The Bulls dropped the series’ first game against the Redbirds, 6-4. Durham surged to an early 3-0 lead through the sixth inning, but the Redbirds rebounded with two in the seventh and four more in the eighth to take the opener on the Fourth of July.

After a rare mid-series off day, the Bulls bounced back to win the next three games. In Game 2, Durham scored ten runs. Errors, doubles, and a home run by Evan Mendoza, his fourth, led the Bulls’ offense. Ryan Yarbrough powered through his start, throwing six innings and allowing four runs with five strikeouts and three walks.

Durham played the role of comeback kid in Game 3. Trailing 3-2 in the bottom of the seventh inning, Ruben Cardenas (2) connected on a home run to tie the game. Memphis countered and took the lead with a two-run home run at the top of the eighth, but the Bulls scored three runs in the eighth thanks to a lack of command from Redbirds pitcher Zach McAllister.

After a home run at the top of the ninth inning forced extras, Memphis held a 7-6 lead heading into the bottom of the 10th. A Curtis Mead double drove in the game-tying run before Ford Proctor connected on a walk-off single to secure an 8-7 win for the Bulls.

A Miles Mastrobuoni homer in the first inning opened the floodgates for Durham in their 13-0 win in Game 4. Durham hit six home runs in the blowout win.

The Bulls dropped the final two games of the series. Both the offense and pitching staff struggled throughout the 9-2 Game 5 loss. The Bulls’ offense struck out ten times, and the pitching staff struggled with its command, walking five batters. In the series finale, the offense sputtered in a 5-1 loss.

The Bulls still sit at the top of the jam-packed International League East standings. Their next series is against the Gwinnett Stripers (41-43).

Mudcats stumble

The Carolina Mudcats (40-41) were throttled in their series against the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers (37-44) this past week, winning the opener before dropping five in a row.

After winning the first game of the series, 4-3, against the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers, the Mudcats dropped the next five.

Jeferson Figueroa threw six innings, allowing five runs in Game 2 of the series. The offense only mustered one run. Jackson Chourio provided all three runs in Game 3’s 5-3 loss with a three-run home run (3) to left field.

Carolina was shut out in Game 4 of the series before allowing eight runs in a Game 5 loss (8-5). Carolina dropped the series-finale, 5-3.

The Mudcats are back at home to face off against the Delmarva Shorebirds (26-54) for a six-game series.