After coming back from an early deficit, the Tides bullpen couldn’t hold it together as they dropped Game 1 of the International League Championship series to the Bulls. Durham’s offense started out with a bang—well two bangs actually. Bulls SS Triston Gray hit a one-out solo HR in the top of the 2nd, and then RF Ruben Cardenas hit a solo blast of his own with two outs in the top of the 3rd.
Faced with an early 2-0 hole, the Tides offense went to work to get back into the game. Shayne Fontana led off the bottom of the third with a single, and two-batters later Connor Norby added a single of his own to give Norfolk a runner in scoring position.