Durham Bulls Defeat Charlotte Knights 8-4 - International League

MLN Newswire - www.mlntherawfeed.com - Durham , NC—Fernando Perez finished a double away from the cycle and Chris Richard blasted two home runs as the Bulls continued their roll on Saturday with an 8-4 victory over the Charlotte Knights at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park. The win was their sixth in their last eight games.

The Bulls hammered Knights starter Tomo Ohka (0-7, 6.12) starting with the first batter they sent to the plate, as Perez blasted his first home run of the year on a day he would end up just a double short of the cycle. Perez finished 3-for-5 with two runs scored and one driven in. Richard continued his recent tear, contributing Durham’s first five-RBI game of 2008 by going 3-for-3 with two home runs. Richard is now 15-for-30 on this homestand with three home runs and 10 RBI. Justin Ruggiano had Durham’s other two RBI.

Jeremy Cummings (2-0, 1.64), who started on three days rest in place of Ben Hendrickson, earned his second straight win with five innings of work. He allowed four hits, two runs, a walk and a home run while striking out two. Calvin Medlock came on and pitched 2.2 innings of one-run relief. Bulls closer Grant Balfour, pitching for the first time since Tuesday, gave up his first run of 2008, albeit in a non-save situation.