IL1 Indianapolis Indians

Durham Two-Hits Tribe 2-0

Published on August 8, 2010 under International League (IL1)
Indianapolis Indians News Release


DURHAM, N.C. -- Five Durham pitchers combined to hold the Indianapolis Indians to no runs on just two hits, while striking out 14 and right fielder Justin Ruggiano went 4-for-4 and drove in both runs in the contest to lead the Bulls to a 2-0 shutout victory over the Tribe on Sunday evening at Durham Bulls Athletic Park.

The loss drops the Indians' record back to .500 at 58-58 on the season, while with the win Durham maintains their International League best record at 71-43 on the year. The win also gives the Bulls a 3-1 series win and 5-3 final advantage in the season series between the two clubs.

Durham starter Aneury Rodriguez (4.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 4 BB, 6 SO) struck out six over 4.1 innings, but did not figure in the final decision despite allowing just a third inning single to Tribe 2B Brian Friday. Following Rodriguez, the Bulls' bullpen was brilliant as RHP Joe Bateman, LHP Jake McGee, LHP R. J. Swindle and RHP Winston Abreu combined to allow just one single and no walks, while striking out eight in 4.2 innings of scoreless relief.

Bateman (0.2 IP, 1 SO) helped Durham escape from one of the only Indians' threats of the game, when after walks to Tribe SS Pedro Ciriaco and Friday, he entered the game and struck out LF Kevin Melillo and induced a fly ball from 3B Akinori Iwamura to earn the victory and improve to 4-0 on the season. McGee (2.0 IP, 5 SO) then turned in a dominating performance as he struck out five of the six batters he faced over two innings of work to earn his first hold of the season.

Fellow southpaw Swindle (1.2 IP, 1 H, 1 SO) followed McGee and would earn his eighth hold of the season despite allowing the Tribe's only other base hit of the contest, a two-out infield single by RF John Bowker in the ninth. However Abreu (0.1 IP, 1 SO) would shut the door on the shutout for the Bulls as he struck out the final batter of the contest to earn his 17th save in 17 chances this season.

While the Bulls' hurlers shut down the Indians' offense the Durham offensive attack came through with just enough support to propel the team to victory. Despite a fifth inning double by Ruggiano being the only extra-base hit on the evening for the Bulls, they managed to scratch out two runs on nine singles, a walk and Ruggiano's two-bagger.

Ruggiano was the offensive story on the evening as he collected a personal season best four hits in four at-bats, beginning with a first inning two-out single. Then in his next at-bat the right handed right fielder provided all the offense the Bulls would need, when after a throwing error, stolen base and ground out put 2B J.J. Furmaniak on third, he came through with a clutch two-out single to give Durham a 1-0 advantage.

Ruggiano was not finished however, as he came through again with another two-out run scoring base knock in the fifth, when following a hit-by-pitch and stolen base by CF Desmond Jennings, he lined a double to right to plate Jennings and give the Bulls' all the breathing room they would need. The speedy outfielder would later wrap up his perfect 4-for-4 night at the plate when he led off the eighth with an infield single.

Along with Ruggiano (4-for-4, 2 RBI), former Indians' INF Chris Richard (2-for-4) and LF Leslie Anderson (2-for-4) also turned in multi-hit efforts for the Bulls

Tribe starter Mike Crotta (6.1 IP, 8 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 SO) was a tough luck loser as he fell to 5-7 on the season despite allowing just one earned run and striking out three over 6.1 innings of work. Reliever Corey Hamman (1.2 IP, 2 H) pitched well out of the Indianapolis' bullpen as he allowed just two hits over an 1.2 innings of scoreless relief.

Indianapolis now heads home to Victory Field for an eight-game homestand beginning with a four-game set against the Norfolk Tides on Monday, August 9 at 7:00 p.m. RHP Jeremy Powell is expected to get the start for the Tribe, while RHP Chris Tillman is the probable starter for the Tides.

The contest will be carried by WXLW-950 AM and broadcast live on Comcast and Bright House Networks digital channel 81 with Howard Kellman and Scott McCauley on the call. The pre-game show on WXLW-950 AM begins at 6:40 p.m.

Post-game quotes -- INF Brian Friday

(on if the long road trip finally caught up the Tribe in Sunday evening's contest)

"I personally don't think that was the case. The starter (Bulls' RHP Aneury Rodriguez) had good stuff and they brought in some good relievers. It was just a frustrating day and we really just couldn't put anything together."

(on what the team can do to get right back in race over the final weeks of the season)

"It's not like we have been going out there and getting killed every game. We can definitely swing the bats a little better than we are, because I think we have a lot of talent there. Our starting pitchers have also been pretty good as of late. I personally think we can get right back into it, I know Louisville is hot, but their is still a chance, and still plenty of time."

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International League Stories from August 8, 2010


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