Bulls Edge Bats to Finish Six Win Homestand

The first-place Durham Bulls finished a successful homestand Thursday night, coming away with a 2-1 victory over the Louisville Bats in front of 9,073 fans on '90s Night at the DBAP. In winning six of the eight games during the home stretch, Durham extended their lead over Norfolk in the IL South to a commanding 9.0 games.

For the fifth time in six games, the Bulls scored their first time up, getting a run on a Vince Belnome double and a Shelley Duncan single. Belnome had two doubles in the game, giving him an IL-leading 21 for the year. Durham has now outscored opponents 71-32 in the first inning this season.

The Bulls added a run in the fifth when Ryan Roberts got his first hit and RBI as a Bull, singling in Brandon Guyer. Roberts was optioned to Durham by Tampa Bay when Wil Myers was promoted last Sunday. He has hit in all seven of his career games at the DBAP, dating back to 2006, when he visited as a member of the Syracuse Chiefs.

The Bats got a run back in the seventh when Jason Donald led off with a double and scored on Billy Hamilton's grounder.

Matt Buschmann (W, 2-0, 1.59) struck out 7 in 5 shutout innings to earn his second win since getting promoted from Double-A Montgomery. Armando Galarraga (L, 5-5, 3.05) took the loss. Steve Geltz pitched the ninth for his third save.

The Bulls travel to Buffalo for a four-game road series starting Friday night. RHP J.D. Martin (9-3, 2.89) starts the opening game for the Bulls against the Bisons' RHP Thad Weber (1-1, 2.20).