2-0 Win Gives Bulls 2-0 Series Lead Over Indy

DURHAM, N.C. - The Durham Bulls used a pair of RBI by Jake Bauers and a shutout performance by Yonny Chirinos and the bullpen to defeat the Indianapolis Indians 2-0 Thursday night and take a 2-0 lead in their Best-of-Five, First Round playoff series.
A potential pitchers' duel between Chirinos and Indians ace Tyler Glasnow lived up to expectations, as the two hurlers stifled the opposing offenses for much of the night. The Bulls were actually out-hit 8-3 in the game, but had the night's two biggest hits in Bauers' solo home run in the second and his RBI single in the eighth. That was enough for the Bulls' pitching staff who hurled the teams' first postseason shutout since their 7-0 win over Pawtucket in the 2013 Governors' Cup Championship.
Indianapolis threatened to score multiple times throughout the contest with a baserunner in every inning except the ninth, as well as runners in scoring position in three separate frames. Durham was able to work their way out of every jam they faced them however, with the defense turning double plays in the third, fifth, and sixth innings.
Bauers got the Bulls on the board in the top of the second, when the first baseman launched the first pitch of the inning over the center field fence for a 1-0 score. Six innings later Bauers came through again, with an RBI single to right that brought home Daniel Robertson for a 2-0 Durham advantage. Reliever Diego Castillo closed the door from there by striking out the side in the ninth to finish off the Bulls win.
Bauers finished the game 2-3 with a home run, two RBI, a walk, and a run scored, while Patrick Leonard collected the only other Bulls hit on the night with his 1-4 contest.
Chirinos (1-0) earned the win thanks to seven shutout innings pitched on seven hits, one walk, and four strikeouts. Adam Kolarek , Hunter Wood , and Jonny Venters all recorded one out apiece to earn holds, while Castillo (1) picked up the save. Glasnow (0-1) was handed the loss despite giving up just one run on two hits, two walks, and nine strikeouts over six innings pitched.
The Bulls (2-0) will try to finish the sweep of the Indians (0-2) and advance to the Governors' Cup Championship with another win on Friday, with RHP Burch Smith (2-1, 1.65) scheduled to take on RHP Nick Kingham (9-6, 4.13) at 7:15 pm in Indianapolis.
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