Bulls Blast Mud Hens Away With Six Homers To Win Playoff Opener
September 5, 2007 - International League (IL1)
Durham Bulls News Release
Durham, NC - After three errors in the sixth inning erased the advantage gained with back-to-back-to-back home runs from Jon Weber, Jason Pridie, and Justin Ruggiano to lead off the game, the Bulls battled back and pulled ahead with back-to-back home runs from Wes Bankston and Elliot Johnson to defeat the Toledo Mud Hens, 11-7 in game one of the first round of the 2007 Governors' Cup Playoffs on Wednesday night at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park.
The very first pitch of the playoffs to the Bulls was slugged over the right-center field wall by Weber, then Pridie and Ruggiano followed with their first career Triple-A playoff home runs to give the Bulls a quick 3-1 lead in the first inning. Ruggiano extended the lead to 4-1 in the third inning with his second home run of the game. Chris Shelton cut the lead in half with a home run in the top of the fourth inning, but a sacrifice fly from Jorge Velandia in the bottom half of the inning and an RBI-single from Michel Hernandez in the fifth inning extended the Bulls' advantage to 6-2.
The Mud Hens roared back from the deficit in the sixth inning though with five unearned runs off three errors to take a 7-6 lead. A fielding error by Velandia allowed the first batter of the inning, Andres Torres, to reach base, and then LHP J.P. Howell walked Michael Hollimon and hit Shelton with a pitch to load the bases. Erick Almonte singled to score Torres, Brent Clevlen drew a walk with two outs to bring home Shelton, and a fielding error by second baseman Elliot Johnson on a ball hit by Jason Perry allowed Almonte to score and bring the Mud Hens within one. It appeared the Bulls were going to escape the inning with the lead after Dane Sardinha hit a grounder to third baseman Evan Longoria, but his throw was off the mark, allowing the tying and go-ahead runs come home.
Durham took the lead back in the bottom half of the inning when Johnson tripled and Velandia walked to lead off the inning, and then first baseman Chris Shelton threw away a ball hit by Jon Weber to allow both to score. Weber then scored on an RBI-single from Ruggiano. Bankston and Johnson then hit back-to-back home runs in the seventh inning to put the Bulls ahead for good, 11-7.
With the three defensive errors behind Bulls starter Howell, he ended up surrendering more runs (seven) than hits (three) and walks (two) allowed combined. The only earned run he allowed came in the first inning on an RBI-groundout from Chris Shelton, and he also struck out nine batters in 5 2/3 innings of work. LHP Jeff Ridgway (1-0) earned the win after getting the Bulls out of the sixth inning, while RHP Shawn Camp pitched the final inning, allowing an RBI-single to Hollimon for the Mud Hens final run. Mud Hens starter RHP Dennis Tankersley left after 3 1/3 innings surrendering five runs on eight hits (four home runs) with no walks and a strikeout, while RHP Jason Karnuth (0-1) took the loss after surrendering the final four runs to the Bulls.
The Bulls and Mud Hens will meet again for game two on Thursday night at 7 PM at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park. For tickets, go to www.durhambulls.com or call the box office at (919) 956-BULL.
International League Stories from September 5, 2007
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