IL· Season 2026
Jeremiah Jackson's two-out RBI single in the eighth inning lifted Norfolk to a 7-6 comeback win over Durham at the DBAP.
Match Analysis
AI SummaryHow It Unfolded
Durham struck first in the second inning when Blake Sabol drove in a run with a single. Norfolk answered in the third — Enrique Bradfield Jr. doubled home a run and the Tides added another to take a 2-1 lead.
Nick Madrigal tied it for Durham in the bottom of the third with a solo homer to left, his second of the season. The Bulls then seized a 4-2 lead in the fourth on RBI singles from Logan Davidson and Tre' Morgan.
Bradfield struck again in the fifth, launching a two-run homer to right off Jesse Scholtens to knot the game at 4-4. Durham reclaimed the lead in the sixth when Victor Mesa Jr., on a major-league rehab assignment from the Tampa Bay Rays, crushed a two-run homer to left-centre off lefty Dietrich Enns.
The 6-4 lead lasted only until the seventh. José Barrero greeted reliever Hunter Bigge with a two-run homer to left, tying the game at 6-6.
In the eighth, with two outs and a runner on, Jackson lined a single to centre off Kodi Whitley (L, 0-1), scoring Blaze Alexander — who had doubled earlier in the inning — to give Norfolk a 7-6 lead. Codi Heuer worked a scoreless ninth, striking out one, to earn his eighth save.
The Turning Point
Hunter Bigge entered in the seventh with a 6-4 lead and surrendered Barrero's game-tying homer on a 1-0 count. The blown save (his second of the season) shifted the momentum entirely. Norfolk's bullpen — Nick Raquet, Luis De León and Heuer — combined for 3.0 scoreless innings with five strikeouts, while Durham's relievers allowed three runs across the final three frames.
Key Performers
Enrique Bradfield Jr. (NOR) — 2-for-4, HR, 2B, 2 R, 3 RBI. The Tides' leadoff man drove in every Norfolk run until the eighth inning. His two-run homer in the fifth tied the game and his RBI double in the third sparked the initial rally.
José Barrero (NOR) — 2-for-4, HR, 2B, 2 R, 2 RBI. His seventh-inning blast erased Durham's two-run lead and set the stage for Jackson's winner.
Tre' Morgan (DUR) — 3-for-5, 2 doubles, RBI, R. The Bulls' first baseman was the only Durham hitter with multiple extra-base hits.
Victor Mesa Jr. (DUR) — 1-for-3, HR, BB, 2 RBI. Rehabbing a hamstring injury, his sixth-inning homer briefly put Durham in control.
Player of the Match: Enrique Bradfield Jr. — his 3 RBI accounted for nearly half of Norfolk's offence, and he reached base in half his plate appearances.
By the Numbers — Interpreted
Durham out-hit Norfolk 11-8 yet lost, a gap explained by timely hitting and bullpen performance. The Tides went 3-for-9 with runners in scoring position to Durham's 4-for-13, but Norfolk's hits were more damaging — two home runs and three doubles compared to Durham's three extra-base hits. Bulls starter Jesse Scholtens threw 83 pitches over 5.0 innings (4 ER, 5 K, 1 BB) in a no-decision, while Norfolk's starter Juaron Watts-Brown (4.0 IP, 4 ER, 6 K, 3 BB) also escaped without a decision. Both bullpens told the story: Norfolk's relievers allowed 2 runs over 5.0 innings; Durham's allowed 3 runs over 4.0 innings.
What It Means
The Bulls fell 2.5 games off the second-half pace with their second straight loss to Norfolk. First-place Indianapolis beat Columbus on Wednesday, widening the gap. Durham hosts Norfolk again on Thursday night, with first pitch scheduled for 6:45 PM ET. The Tides, already out of playoff contention at 47-78, are playing spoiler — they have now won two in a row against a Bulls side chasing a postseason berth.
Rivalry since 2024
Durham Bulls vs Norfolk Tides Head to Head Results· 50
Durham Bulls and Norfolk Tides have met 50 times — Durham Bulls won 29, Norfolk Tides won 21, with 0 draws. Their rivalry dates back to 2024. Durham Bulls leads the head-to-head with 29 victories from 50 meetings. A combined 464 goals have been scored across these fixtures, averaging 9.28 per match (264 for the home side, 200 for the visitors). Both teams scored in 46 matches (92%). Over 2.5 goals landed in 50 games (100%), making it a fixture that tends to produce goals. The highest-scoring encounter finished 19–9 in 2026.
Statistics are for informational purposes only. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
API data: 31 Aug 2026