Bulls Eighth Inning Rally Stems the Tides
Published on September 5, 2010 under International League (IL1)
Durham Bulls News Release
Durham, NC - The Bulls pushed across three runs in the bottom of the eighth inning and snapped their three-game losing streak with a 6-5 victory over Norfolk. Elliot Johnson had a solo homer in the first and a two-run triple in the eighth before Joe Dillon brought home the go-ahead run with a sacrifice fly. With the win, the Bulls improve to 87-55 on the season with one game left in the 2010 regular season.
Brian Baker got the start for the Bulls, but allowed a pair of runs in the first inning. Michael Aubrey had an RBI single for Norfolk, and Scott Moore brought a run across with a groundout.
In the bottom of the first, the Bulls tied the game at two as Elliot Johnson and Chris Richard hit back-to-back solo home runs off Armando Gambino. It was the fifth time this season the Bulls have gone back-to-back, the last occurring on August 11th when Justin Ruggiano and Richard went deep against Charlotte.
After Norfolk took back the lead with a run in the second, the Bulls tied it again in the third inning. With Fernando Perez on second after a walk and a stolen base, Tides shortstop Blake Davis' throwing error on a ball off the bat of Elliot Johnson allowed Perez to score and tie the game at three.
Norfolk took the lead back again, notching single tallies in the fourth and fifth innings. Blake Davis doubled home a run in the fourth, before Jeff Salazar drew a walk off Baker to start the fifth and eventually came home when former Bull Rhyne Hughes doubled off left-hander Brian Shouse to give Norfolk a 5-3 advantage.
The score remained the same until the eighth inning, when a single by Perez and a walk to Furmaniak put the tying runs on base against Tides right-hander Kam Mickolio. After Kyle Holloway failed to get a sacrifice bunt down and struck out, right-hander Dennis Sarfate came out of the bullpen to face Johnson. The Bulls All-Star utility man hit a looping line drive to center field which skipped past Matt Angle allowing the tying runs to come across as he scampered into third with a triple. After an intentional walk to Richard, Joe Dillon lifted a sacrifice fly deep to center field which allowed Johnson to come home with the eventual winning run.
After recording the final out in the eighth inning, Joe Bateman worked a scoreless ninth to preserve the win for the Bulls. Bateman improves to 7-0 on the season, lowering his team-leading ERA to 1.66 on the season.
The Bulls close out the regular season tomorrow with an afternoon finale against the Tides. LHP Bobby Livingston (0-0 5.40) takes the mound for the Bulls, matched up against RHP Tim Bascom (4-7 6.86) for Norfolk.
International League Stories from September 5, 2010
- Charlotte Beats Gwinnett, 5-1 - Gwinnett Stripers
- Tribe Trips up Louisville 5-3 - Indianapolis Indians
- Knights Finishing Up the Season Strong - Charlotte Knights
- Chiefs Edge Pawtucket 5-4 - Pawtucket Red Sox
- Regular Season Finale, IL West Division Title on the Line - Louisville Bats
- Chiefs Rally for 5-4 Win Over PawSox - Syracuse Mets
- Toledo Wallops Columbus in Front of Big Crowd - Toledo Mud Hens
- Bulls Eighth Inning Rally Stems the Tides - Durham Bulls
- Phillies' Baez to Rehab at CCP Monday - Lehigh Valley IronPigs
- IronPigs Game Notes - Lehigh Valley IronPigs
- Bisons Notes - Buffalo Bisons
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.
