Louisville Bats 2, Durham Bulls 0

[Via email from Neil Solondz, Durham Bulls Broadcaster.]

(Louisville, KY) Heath Phillips continued to pitch well for Durham, but the Bulls dropped a 2-0 decision to Louisville on Thursday night.

Phillips (6-5) allowed just one run for a fourth straight start. Louisville (31-36) got that in the first inning when Chris Burke doubled on the ground past third. He was sacrificed to third, and scored on Yonder Alonzo's grounder to second with the infield back.

From there Phillips allowed only three hits, all singles. He struck out five and didn't walk a batter, retiring the final 11 hitters.

Durham managed only five hits and one walk against four Louisville pitchers. Justin Ruggiano, just down from Tampa Bay, went 2-for-4. The Bulls (39-27) went 0-for-8 though with runners in scoring position, and are 3-for-26 over the past two games, both defeats.

Chad Reineke (3-5) went the first seven innings for the victory and Jon Adkins picked up his 10th save this year by getting the final out. It was his 40th with Louisville, setting a franchise record. Louisville added an insurance run in the eighth on Zack Cozart's two-out single off Mike Ekstrom.

Durham leads the IL South Division by eight games over Gwinnett, and takes on Louisville again on Friday. RHP Richard De Los Santos squares off against talented lefty Aroldis Chapman. Coverage on 620 the Buzz begins at 6:50 with first pitch at 7:05.