FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 22, 2026
Email: info@durhambulls.com
Allentown, PA --- Caleb Ricketts doubled home a pair of runs in the first inning to lead the Lehigh Valley IronPigs past the Durham Bulls 4-1 on Wednesday night at Coca-Cola Park.
Ricketts, who hit the game-winning homer on Tuesday night in the ninth inning, clubbed a double past the dive of centerfielder Jacob Melton in right-center to score two runs. Brody Hopkins (L, 0-2) recorded the game's first two outs before hitting Otto Kemp on an 0-2 pitch, followed by a walk.
The IronPigs (13-10) moved ahead 3-0 in the fourth when Hopkins walked the first batter on four pitches, then permitted a run-scoring double to Liover Peguero.
The Bulls (8-15) trimmed the deficit to 3-1 in the sixth thanks to a Carson Williams single against the right-center wall. The inning began with a walk to Melton, who then stole second base. Raynel Delgao looped a single to right, moving Melton to third. However, Melton injured himself rounding third base and left the game. Pinch-hitter Cooper Bowman scored on a deep single by Williams to make it 3-1. But the inning would close with a double play grounder and a strikeout.
Sergio Alcantara singled home an insurance run for the Iron Pigs in the seventh against reliever Garrett Cleavinger.
The Bulls and IronPigs each had five hits, with Delgado collecting two singles and a walk.
Hopkins worked six innings, allowing four hits, three walks and three runs. Hopkins fanned five and took the loss.
Bryse Wilson, a Hillsborough, NC native, fanned 10 across six innings to record the win. In total, Bulls batters struck out 16 times in the loss.
Game three of the series is slated for Thursday night at 6:35 PM ET with Chase Solesky (1-0, 6.91) expected to start for Durham.
Notes: Hopkins went six innings for the first time in his Triple-A career. Hopkins made 84 pitches, 49 strikes. However, all three runs against Hopkins reached on either walks or hit batters. Hopkins recorded the first two outs of the game on seven pitches, then after jumping ahead 0-2 on Otto Kemp, Hopkins drilled Kemp in the back with a 100mph fastball. Hopkins then walked Bryan DeLaCruz on a 3-2 pitch, then served up Ricketts' two-run double. In the fourth, Hopkins walked leadoff batter Christian Cairo on four pitches, followed by an RBI-double by Peguero.... Melton, who picked up his minor league tying 17th steal in the sixth, had to be assisted off the field after awkwardly rounding third base on Delgado's single. Melton's left shin and ankle were examined, but he slowly walked off under his own power with a trainer on either side of him. Melton was able to put some weight on his left leg on his long walk from third base into the first base dugout... Rays reliever Garrett Cleavinger made his second rehab appearance for Durham. Cleavinger walked the first batter on five pitches, then hit the next batter on his next pitch. After a pop out, Alcantara rolled a 1-2 pitch into center to drive in a run before Cleavinger struck out Steward Berroa. After the strikeout on his 20th pitch, he was removed and Andrew Wantz recorded the final out of the inning on one pitch.
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