IL1 Durham Bulls

Rain Reset Helps Bulls Rally for 5-4 Win

Published on June 4, 2017 under International League (IL1)
Durham Bulls News Release


DURHAM, NC - The Durham Bulls quickly fell behind the visiting Pawtucket Red Sox 3-0 in the first two innings Sunday evening, but the Bulls hit the reset button following a brief rain delay and rallied for five unanswered runs for a 5-4 win and a series victory at Durham Bulls Athletic Park.

The Bulls got off to a rocky start in their rubber match vs. the PawSox, as the road team plated two in the first inning and one in the second to take a quick 3-0 advantage. Durham got a run back in the bottom of the second before a small rain storm passed over the DBAP in the middle of the third, causing a brief 24-minute delay and allowing the Bulls' a fresh start of sorts. Following the break in the action, the home team rallied for three runs in the bottom of the inning to take a lead they would hold for the rest of the night.

Pawtucket jumped on Bulls' starting pitcher Ryan Yarbrough over the first two innings, with a two-run home run by Bryce Brentz in the first and a solo shot off the bat of Allen Craig in the second giving the Sox a 3-0 advantage. Durham got on the board in the home half of the second, as Shane Peterson doubled to left and Casey Gillaspie followed one batter later with an RBI single to cut the score to 3-1.

Following a 1-2-3 top of the third, the tarp came on the field and both teams retreated to the dugouts. When the Bulls reemerged they looked like a new team, with the bats awakening for three runs on three hits, two walks, and a hit-by-pitch to go ahead 4-3. Second baseman Kean Wong got the rally started with a leadoff single, followed one out later by a base knock from Willy Adames and an RBI single off the bat of Jake Bauers to make the score 3-2. Patrick Leonard reached next when he was hit by a pitch to load the bases, before Peterson tied the game at 3-3 with an RBI sacrifice fly to left. After Mike Marjama reached on a free pass to re-load the bases, Gillaspie also walked to force home Bauers for a 4-3 Durham lead.

The score remained the same from there until the bottom of the seventh, when the Bulls picked up an insurance run on an RBI single by Adames to bring home Mallex Smith and give Durham a 5-3 lead. That last run would prove to be important, as the PawSox rallied for a run in the ninth before reliever Jeff Ames closed the door to finish off the 5-4 win.

Adames finished the game 3-4 with an RBI and a run to lead the Bulls' bats, while Gillaspie went 1-3 with two RBI and a walk.

Yarbrough (4-3) earned the win after tossing a quality start with three runs allowed on seven hits, no walk, and seven strikeouts over six innings pitched, while Ames (2) recorded the save after escaping the ninth. Pawtucket starter Jalen Beeks (0-1) took the loss in his Triple-A debut after giving up four runs on six hits, three walks, and three strikeouts during his six innings on the mound.

The Bulls (34-21) finish the weekend having taken two of three games from the Red Sox (24-27) in the two teams' final matchup of the season. The Bulls will now head to Charlotte for a three-game set against the Knights, with LHP Blake Snell (2-0, 2.95) taking on RHP Lucas Giolito (2-5, 5.36) Monday night at 7:05 pm.

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International League Stories from June 4, 2017


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