Durham Bulls Beat Pawtucket Red Sox 3-2

[Via email from the Durham Bulls' broadcaster Neil Solondz.]

Wade Davis pitched six scoreless innings, as the Bulls won their second straight one-run game over Pawtucket on Monday, 3-2.

Davis (6-3), retired his last 10 Pawsox hitters, after allowing four hits and three walks in the first three innings. He ended up stranding seven baserunners, as Pawtucket was 1-for-6 with runners in scoring position over the first three innings.

Durham took a 2-0 lead in the second against Enrique Gonzalez (5-6). With one out, Ray Sadler beat out a grounder to the hole at short, and moved to third on a double to right by Rashad Eldridge. Ray Olmedo hit a grounder to first to score a run, and Chris Nowak followed with an RBI two-out single to right for a 2-0 lead. Durham tacked on a third run in the third on Henry Mateo's first homer, which ended a string of five games without a Bulls homer.

Durham squandered a second and third no-out opportunity in the sixth, and then Pawtucket rallied against the Durham pen. In the seventh against Julio DePaula, Freddy Guzman had a ground single to right, stole second and third, and scored when John Jaso's throw hit him and went into foul ground. In the eighth , Chris Carter doubled to left center off Dale Thayer, and pinch-runner Chip Ambres came home after back-to-back groundouts.

In the ninth Thayer walked the leadoff hitter Jeff Natale, but Angel struck out trying to sacrifice. Freddy Guzman then flew out to left. Jeff Bailey then rolled a ball to short that Brandon Chaves bobbled but was ruled a hit. Two pitches later, Travis Denker grounded to third to end the game.

Durham, 37-21, is 17-7 in games decided by one or two runs. The Bulls, tied with Norfolk for the best record in the league, wrap up the series with Pawtucket on Tuesday with Carlos Hernandez on the mound against Clay Buchholz. Coverage on 99.9 the Fan's HD2 begins at 6:45 with first pitch at 7:05.