The Game: The Durham Bulls defeated the Buffalo Bisons 9-2 on Wednesday at Coca-Cola Field. Durham went deep three times to help secure the win.Durham took the lead in the third inning. Chris Richard delivered a solo home run to right to give them a 1-0 lead.
The Bulls added to their lead in the fifth. This time is was Angel Chavez going deep to increase the lead to 2-0.
Durham’s offense struck again in the sixth inning. Rashad Eldridge delivered a solo home run to start the inning. Justin Ruggiano followed with a double to right and then later scored on an RBI double by Hank Blalock to take a 4-0 lead.
Buffalo reached the scoreboard in the bottom of the sixth. Jason Pridie and Jesus Feliciano led off the inning with back to back singles. Mike Hessman drove home the first run with a single to left to score Pridie. Later Chris Carter plated Feliciano to cut the lead in half 4-2.
The Bulls added two more runs in the eighth inning. Rashad Eldridge drew a walk to get things started. Justin Ruggiano followed with a single to right. Hank Blalock drove home a run with a single to right to score Eldridge. Ruggiano then scored on a double by Dan Johnson to increase the lead to 7-2
Durham kept producing runs into the ninth inning, adding three more to their total. The Bulls loaded the bases on walks issued to Angel Chavez, Rashad Eldridge and Justin Ruggiano. Hank Blalock drew a bases loaded walk to push across a run. Then Dan Johnson knocked in two with a single to right to give the Bulls a 9-2 win.
Jeremy Hellickson recorded his fourth victory by pitching 5 1/3 innings and allowing 2 runs on 6 hits with 5 strikeouts and a walk. Mike Ekstrom followed with 1 2/3 innings and allowed a hit with a strikeout. Winston Abreu and Dale Thayer pitched a scoreless frame each to finish the game.
Bulls Player of the Game: Justin Ruggiano; 3 for 4 with a double, 3 runs scored and a walk.
RP Top Prospect Watch:
Jeremy Hellickson: 2 runs on 6 hits with 5 strikeouts and a walk in 5 1/3 innings.
A Look Ahead: The Bulls and Bisons do it all again on Thursday night at Coca-Cola Field. Heath Phillips will get the start against RA Dickey.
In pursuit of trivia: Note that last night's Bulls lineup was measurably older than Tampa Bays.
ReplyDeleteDidn't know they were raffling a VW in Buffalo ...
ReplyDeleteBulls and Bisons and bugs, oh my...
ReplyDeleteOops. Running late didn't have time to proof read before hitting publish. At least it was funny and not profane.
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