Myers' Homers Power Bulls Past Bats
Published on June 8, 2013 under International League (IL1)
Louisville Bats News Release
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The Louisville Bats (29-34) dropped game one of a four-game series with the Durham Bulls (40-23) 6-3 on Saturday night at Louisville Slugger Field. The Bulls moved to 15-4 in series openers on the season.
Top Tampa Bay Rays prospect Wil Myers led the way for Durham on a night where Louisville struggled to put runs on the board for starter Armando Galarraga. Myers went 3-5 and hit two homers, accounting for three RBIs to power the Bulls to victory.
The Bats would pull within one in the sixth with a three-run outburst, but couldn't rally in the final third of the game to catch the Bulls.
Durham kicked off the scoring in the first inning when Vince Belnome scored from third on a dropped third strike, making their lead 1-0 after the Bats were held scoreless in their half of the inning.
Myers added on in the second with a solo shot to straightaway center field that made the Bulls' lead 2-0. The home run was Myers' 11th of the season.
The Bulls tacked on two more in the fifth when Myers hit a two-out, two-run blast to left-center field that scored Brandon Guyer and extended Durham's lead to 4-0. Saturday was the third time a Bull has gone deep twice in a game in 2013, with Myers being the last to do it on May 28.
In the sixth, Billy Hamilton stole his International League-leading 33rd base. With the following pitch, Neftali Soto reached base on an error by Tim Beckham. Nevin Ashley scored on the play to get Louisville on the board and make the Bulls' lead 4-1.
The Bats' comeback bid in the sixth continued when Felix Perez smashed a double off of the right-center field wall, scoring Hamilton and Soto and bringing Louisville to within one by a score of 4-3.
Bulls' starter Matt Buschmann (W, 1-0) was done after 5.1 innings during which he allowed three runs (two earned) on six hits and two walks while striking out three.
Durham had an answer for the Bats' sixth inning in the seventh. Belnome widened the Bulls' lead with an RBI single that scored Jason Bourgeois to make the score 5-3. Galarraga (L, 4-4) left the game following the at-bat, allowing six earned runs on nine hits and two walks while striking out four in six innings.
Steve Geltz (H, 3) and Josh Lueke (S, 8) combined for 3.2 innings of scoreless relief to close out the victory and secure an early series lead for the Bulls.
Game two of the four-game set between the Bulls and the Bats will begin at 6:05 p.m. tomorrow evening at Louisville Slugger Field. Louisville RHP Greg Reynolds (2-0, 2.65) will go against Buffalo's RHP Alex Colome (4-5, 2.73). Kids can run the bases following the game tomorrow night.
International League Stories from June 8, 2013
- G-Braves Stun Clippers in 4-3 Walk-Off Win - Gwinnett Stripers
- Myers' Homers Power Bulls Past Bats - Louisville Bats
- Sox Fall to Chiefs 4-3 - Pawtucket Red Sox
- Bisons Hit Seven Doubles in Series Opening Win - Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders
- PawSox lose 4-3 - Pawtucket Red Sox
- Perez, Chiefs Shock PawSox with Late Rally - Syracuse Mets
- Rochester Red Wings Game Notes - Rochester Red Wings
- Bisons Notes - Buffalo at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (7:05 p.m.) - Buffalo Bisons
- SWB Game Notes - Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders
- Gwinnett Braves Game to Air on MLB Network on June 11 - Gwinnett Stripers
- Tribe Battles Back to Beat Bulls 6-5 - Indianapolis Indians
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