DURHAM, N.C. - The Durham Bulls had their game and series against the Louisville Bats slip away late Wednesday night, as the Bulls couldn't hold on to a one-run lead in the ninth before eventually losing 7-4 in 11 innings from the DBAP.The Bulls entered the ninth holding on to
DURHAM, N.C. - The Durham Bulls had their game and series against the Louisville Bats slip away late Wednesday night, as the Bulls couldn't hold on to a one-run lead in the ninth before eventually losing 7-4 in 11 innings from the DBAP.
The Bulls entered the ninth holding on to a 4-3 lead thanks to seven solid innings of work by starting pitcher Yonny Chirinos to go along with four runs on 10 hits by the Durham lineup. Reliever Chaz Roe wasn't able to hold on to the one-run advantage in the ninth however, as the Bats tied the score at 4-4 and sent the game to extras. The contest remained deadlocked until the 11th, when Louisville plated three runs on three hits and a walk to hand the Bulls a 7-4 loss.
The Bulls jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning courtesy of some small ball offense, as leadoff batter Kean Wong reached on a bunt single, stole second base, and eventually scored on a two-out, RBI single from Johnny Field . The Bats quickly responded the next half inning however, with an RBI single by Tyler Goeddel and a wild pitch from Chirinos allowing a pair of runs to score to put the Bulls behind 2-1.
Durham came back to tie the contest in the home half of the frame, with a leadoff, solo home run by Shane Peterson making the score 2-2. That held until the bottom of the fifth, when the Bulls rallied for a pair of runs to go on top 4-2. Jake Hager started the inning with a leadoff double before Wong lined a single to center to put runners on the corners with nobody out. Hager was able to score from third on a wild pitch by Louisville hurler Rookie Davis, while Wong eventually came home on an RBI, sacrifice fly from Jake Bauers to put the Bulls up by two.
The Bats took a bite out of their deficit in the seventh with an RBI single by Goedell to make the score 4-3. The visiting team was then able to once again tie the game in the top of the ninth, as an Eric Jagielo RBI groundout made the score 4-4. The game remained deadlocked until the 11th, when Chad Wallach lined a two-out, solo homer to right to put Louisville ahead 5-4. The road team picked up a pair of insurance runs later in the frame on a two-RBI triple by Zach Vincej to give them the 7-4 final score.
Reliever Chase Whitley (0-2) took the loss for the Bulls after allowing all three runs in the 11th inning. Bats reliever Nick Routt (2-4) earned the win with two scoreless inning pitched, while teammate Jimmy Herget (7) picked up the save after throwing a scoreless 11th to close out the game.
Wong paced the Durham lineup with a 3-6 game including two runs scored and two stolen bases, while Peterson finished 2-4 with his team-leading 11th homer of the season.
The Bulls (71-45) remain at home to host the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders in a four-game weekend series beginning Thursday night at 7:05 pm.
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