Durham Downs Indy, Snaps Season-Long Skid

Bulls beat Indians 6-3 to win first game since June 15

June 25, 2014

DURHAM, N.C. - The Durham Bulls snapped their season-long eight-game losing streak with a 6-3 win over the Indianapolis Indians Wednesday night at the DBAP.

Behind a strong pitching performance by right-hander Nathan Karns and three relievers, Durham (44-37) broke its longest losing streak since the team dropped 13 straight in the first month of the 2012 campaign. Karns (4-4) earned the win, lasting six innings and allowing three runs on six hits while striking out six. He gave way to Adam Liberatore who tossed a scoreless seventh before Josh Lueke came on and tossed 1 1/3 frames. Southpaw Jeff Beliveau then entered and registered the final two outs to notch his 10^th save in 11 chances this season.

The Bulls got on the board first, striking for a run in the second inning on a solo homer from Curt Casali. The Indians tied it in the top of the third, but Durham came right back in the bottom of the third on a two-run dinger from Vince Belnome for a 3-1 lead.

The Indians (46-33) struck for a single run in the fifth and the sixth to square the game at 3-3, before the home side took the lead for good in the bottom of the sixth. Justin Christian and Belnome led off with a single and double, respectively. After a strikeout, Wilson Betemit was intentionally walked to load the bases, which allowed Christian to score when Casali walked. That set the stage for Jeremy Moore - promoted from Double-A Montgomery on Tuesday and making his Durham debut tonight - to rip a two-run double down the right-field line to open a 6-3 lead.

Belnome led the way offensively for Durham, going 3-for-4 with a homer, two doubles, two RBIs and two runs scored, while Moore contributed two hits in his first Triple-A contest since July 14 of last season.

Right-handed reliever Tyler Waldron (2-3) took the loss for the visitors, allowing three runs on four hits in two innings.

The Bulls and Indians meet again Thursday when Durham sends RHP Matt Andriese (6-4, 3.56) to the hill opposite LHP Adam Wilk (6-5, 4.29) for Indianapolis. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m.