Defense Dooms Bulls to 3-1 Loss
May 11, 2017 - International League (IL1)
Durham Bulls News Release
DURHAM, NC - The Durham Bulls found themselves locked in a pitchers' duel with the Columbus Clippers Thursday morning with some shaky defense proving to be the difference, as a pair of Bulls errors in the sixth resulted in the decisive runs scoring in a 3-1 Durham defeat at Durham Bulls Athletic Park.
With a crowd of 9,377 in at the park for the morning Education Day, the Bulls and Clippers entered the sixth frame in a 1-1 tie thanks to the standout pitching by Brent Honeywell for Durham and Ryan Merritt for Columbus. The Clippers were able to break the deadlock with four singles and two Bulls errors in the inning however, with nearly identical fielding miscues by Kean Wong at second base and Willy Adames at short helping Columbus score the winning runs.
The Bulls took the initial lead on the day with a run in the bottom of the third, as Adames lined a one-out, solo home run to right-center field to put the home team ahead 1-0. The Clippers answered with a single tally of their own the next half inning, with an RBI single from Richie Shaffer tying the game at 1-1.
The Sixth inning began with the 10th strikeout of the game for Honeywell, before Chris Colabello singled to right and Giovanny Urshela followed one out later with a base knock of his own. Ronny Rodriguez then reached on an infield single that saw Wong cut the ball off in shallow right field, but misplay the transfer to his throwing hand allowing Colabello to score. Adam Moore followed with a ground ball deep in the hole at short that Adames, much like Wong, has able to cut off before bobbling the transfer resulting in another error and another run.
Durham threatened to rally in both the seventh and ninth innings, but ultimately left the tying runs at the plate in both frames resulting in the 3-1 loss.
Honeywell (2-3) took the loss for the Bulls despite finishing with a quality start of three runs allowed, two earned, on eight hits and 10 Ks over 6 innings pitched. Merritt (3-3) earned the win for the Clippers with one run given up on seven hits, two walks, and seven strikeouts over his 6.1 frames, while reliever Shawn Armstrong (3) recorded the save.
Adames led Durham offensively with a 2-4 game including a homer, RBI, and run scored, while Shane Peterson also finished with a 2-4 day at the plate.
The Bulls (21-11) will remain at home over the weekend for a three-game series against the Toledo Mud Hens, with LHP Ryan Yarbrough (2-2, 3.34) taking on RHP Warwick Saupold (1-0, 2.93) at 7:05 pm.
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