Back and Forth Affair Does Not End in Bulls Favor
Published on September 2, 2010 under International League (IL1)
Durham Bulls News Release
Durham, NC - Durham and Gwinnett exchanged leads throughout the night but it was the Braves that prevailed in the end, 7-6 on Thursday night at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park.
The Bulls got on the board first with a pair of runs off Gwinnett starter Todd Redmond. Free passes to Fernando Perez and Justin Ruggiano put a pair of men aboard for Chris Richard, who tripled deep to left-center field to score both runs and put the Bulls on top 2-0.
Gwinnett answered back in the fourth inning, knocking home five runs against Bulls right-hander Aneury Rodriguez to take the lead. Brent Clevlan had a two-run homer which glanced off the top of the wall and over the fence in right to tie the game at two, before a walk and a double put two more in scoring position with two outs. In just his second career at bat at the Triple-A level, Gwinnett third baseman Dan Nelson stepped to the plate at lifted a Rodriguez offering deep into the seats in right field for a three-run homer to put the Braves on top 5-2.
Back came the Bulls in the bottom of the fifth inning, as they scored four to take the lead back against Redmond. With a runner on first and one out, Kyle Holloway doubled over the head of the center fielder to put runners at first and second. It was Holloway's first hit as a Bull after being promoted from Rookie League Princeton yesterday. A pair of RBI singles by Perez and JJ Furmaniak brought Durham within one, and Justin Ruggiano made it three in a row with an RBI single of his own to score Perez with the tying run. Chris Richard walked to load the bases, and Joe Dillon followed with a sacrifice fly to left which scored Furmaniak and put the Bulls on top.
The lead would not stand, as the Bulls bullpen allowed single runs in the seventh and eighth innings which allowed Gwinnett to take back the lead. Luis Bolivar led off the seventh with a walk against Mike Ekstrom, as RJ Swindle was called upon out of the bullpen. Bolivar stole second base, and came around to score later in the inning on an RBI single by Matt Young. They would add another, as Joe Thurston doubled to start the inning and eventually came around to score on a sacrifice fly by Orlando Mercado off Dale Thayer.
Nelson helped stave off a Bulls rally in the eighth inning, making a diving play on a potential game-tying extra-base hit by Omar Luna to end the threat. Craig Kimbrel came on for the Braves in the ninth, setting the Bulls down 1-2-3 to earn his 23rd save of the season.
The Bulls fall to 86-53 on the season, and will have to win each of their last four games in order to break the all-time franchise record of 89 wins set in 1962.
The two teams wrap up their season series tomorrow as RHP Richard De Los Santos (14-5, 3.36) looks to improve his franchise record win total against RHP Brandon Beachy (2-0, 2.50) for Gwinnett. Game time is set for 7:05 p.m.
International League Stories from September 2, 2010
- PawSox Return to Winning Ways - Pawtucket Red Sox
- Aubrey's Homer Lifts Tides in 13 - Norfolk Tides
- Back and Forth Affair Does Not End in Bulls Favor - Durham Bulls
- Chiefs Down Red Wings 7-3, Win Fifth Straight - Syracuse Mets
- Gwinnett Downs Durham 7-6 in Short-Series Opener - Gwinnett Stripers
- Indians Outlast Louisville 7-5 - Indianapolis Indians
- Bulls Allowing Facebook Fans to Vote for 2010 Fan Favorite Award - Durham Bulls
- International League News & Notes - IL1
- Bisons Notes - Buffalo Bisons
- Mets Promote Bisons Catcher Mike Nickeas - Buffalo Bisons
- Mud Hens Announce 2011 Schedule - Toledo Mud Hens
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
