Odorizzi, Bulls Knock Off Indianapolis 6-2
Indianapolis, IN --- Jake Odorizzi fanned eight over six innings to lead the Durham Bulls to a 6-2 victory over the Indianapolis Indians at Victory Field on Thursday night.
Odorizzi (W, 5-1) struggled through the first inning, making 41 pitches, but required just 65 more over his final five scoreless innings to earn his first win after returning from the Tampa Bay Rays.
The Bulls (39-22) worked over major league rehabber James McDonald, pushing across a first inning run and stealing four of their eight bases in the game in the opening inning. Rich Thompson singled against the right hip of McDonald, then stole second and third and scored on a sacrifice fly by Wil Myers.
After the Indians scored twice in the bottom half, the Bulls nosed ahead again in the third against McDonald. Thompson singled to right, swiped second and third, then scored on a Myers single to center. Myers then stole second and scored on a double by Shelley Duncan for a 3-2 lead.
The Bulls tacked on another run in the fourth after McDonald departed with two outs. Tim Alderson walked his first two hitters on eight pitches, then a looper to right by Guyer scored a run for a 4-2 lead.
Durham scored two more two-out runs in the sixth on singles by Guyer and Vince Belnome.
Odorizzi (W, 5-1) worked six innings, fanning eight, walking two and allowing six hits. Josh Lueke pitched two scoreless innings on 20 pitches, with Kirby Yates working a two-walk ninth inning.
The Bulls maintained their three-game lead in the South, and lead the series with Indianapolis 2-1 ahead of Friday's finale. Mike Montgomery (2-0) starts at 7:15 PM ET for the Bulls.