Pearce Leads Indians to 9-1 Win Over Bulls
August 16, 2007 - International League (IL1)
Indianapolis Indians News Release
DURHAM, N.C. -- First baseman Steven Pearce smashed two homers and collected a career-high six RBI, while right-hander Bryan Bullington scattered just one run and six hits over eight innings as Indianapolis cruised to a 9-1 win over Durham in front of 7,323 Thursday night at Durham Bulls Athletic Park.
The Indians improve to 64-60 overall and 29-33 on the road, while the Bulls fall to 69-56 on the season and 34-28 at home. Thursday will be the Tribe's 270th consecutive day with a record of .500 or better. Indianapolis has now won three straight contests, while Durham sees its five-game winning streak come to an end.
Pearce (3-for-5, 2 R, 6 RBI), who becomes the first Indian to drive in six runs this season, clobbered a two-run homer in the first, another two-run dinger in the third and a two-run double in the fifth. The 24-year-old had previously recorded five RBI on two occasions for Double-A Altoona (Pa.) in 2007 and twice for Low-A Hickory (N.C.) in 2006.
Bullington (8.0 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 6 SO) improved to 11-6 in his 11th quality start of the campaign. The former Ball State star also becomes the IL's fourth 11-game winner.
Indianapolis jumped out of the gate with two runs in the first when DH Jose Hernandez (0-for-3, 3 R) reached on a throwing error before Pearce hammered his first homer over the left-field wall.
The Indians padded their lead with three runs in the third. LF Chris Aguila (2-for-4, 2 R, 1 RBI) smashed his fourth dinger of the season -- a solo-shot to left. Hernandez then reached on a free pass before Pearce smacked his sixth Triple-A roundtripper of the campaign and second of the night over left-center wall.
The Tribe put the contest out of reach by adding four runs in the fifth. The first five batters reached safely before Pearce highlighted the frame with a two-run double to left. C Milver Reyes, Aguila, SS Brian Bixler (2-for-5, 1 R) and Hernandez each crossed the plate in the inning.
The Bulls scored their lone run of the night in the seventh when 3B Evan Longoria nailed his third homer of the season -- a lead-off shot to left.
Durham LHP J.P. Howell (4.0 IP, 7 H, 9 R, 7 ER, 2 BB, 9 SO) suffered the loss, falling to 5-7.
The two teams face off in the final tilt of the two-game series on Friday at 7 p.m. RHP John Van Benschoten is scheduled to start for the Indians, while RHP Jae Seo is expected to get the nod for the Bulls.
The contest will be carried by ESPN-950 AM and IndyIndians.com with Howard Kellman and Scott McCauley. The pre-game show begins at 6:40 p.m.
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