Offense Falls Silent in Loss to Bulls
ALLENTOWN, PA - The Lehigh Valley IronPigs could muster just four hits and a lone run as they dropped the opener of a four-game series to the Durham Bulls 3-1 on a muggy Tuesday night at Coca-Cola Park.
Entering the game with the International League's best team batting average in the month of June, Lehigh Valley was shut down by Durham pitching, managing just four hits against the combination of Merrill Kelly, Adam Liberatore and Kirby Yates.
The Bulls (49-30) opened the scoring in the third inning when Tim Beckham doubled down the left field line, scoring Cole Figueroa. The visitors then scored a pair in the fourth when Vince Belnome scored on Ryan Roberts' double to center, and Roberts himself scored on a wild pitch for a 3-0 lead.
The IronPigs (41-37) manufactured their lone run in the sixth inning, when Cody Overbeck picked up his 38th RBI of the season with a bases-loaded walk. That run would prove to be all Lehigh Valley could muster however, as they managed just one hit over the final three innings.
Kelly (2-0) earned the win with 5 2/3 strong innings, allowing a run on three hits and four walks in just his third career Triple-A appearance. Yates earned his eighth save of the season, tossing the final 1 1/3 frames while striking out three. Raul Valdes (2-3) was the tough-luck loser for the home side, going seven innings and allowing three runs on six hits.
Game two of the series is set for Wednesday night when LHP Tom Cochran (3-2, 4.68) makes the start for Lehigh Valley against Durham RHP Matt Buschmann (2-0, 1.59). First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. from Coca-Cola Park.
Bacon Bits: Valdes went seven innings for his second straight start… Luis Garcia made his Triple-A debut for Lehigh Valley, tossing a scoreless eighth inning… Michael Martinez committed a throwing error in the sixth inning, marking the first infield error for Lehigh Valley in 140 innings.