Durham, Rochester Split Twin Bill
Stephen Vogt accounted for two of the four Bulls hits in the first game of the twin bill on Sunday. Vogt provided the Bulls' lone run, crushing his 9th homer of the season, a solo shot in the second inning.
Jim Paduch tossed the Bulls' first complete game of the year, but gave up five runs, four earned on the way to his 8th loss of the season. Durham was in the game until the top of fifth inning when Rochester's Clete Thomas smoked his second home run of the series to make it a 5-1 game.
In game two, top Rays prospect Chris Archer made his first start since lasting just 1.0 IP on July 2nd. The number three prospect in the Tampa Bay system was on a limited pitch count and tossed only 2 2/2 innings, allowing an earned run while striking out one.
After the Bulls failed to score with the bases loaded in top of the first, they took their first lead of the night in the following frame. Leslie Anderson sparked the offense, launching a 2-run shot in the second, his 10th home run of season. Durham's leading hitter collected three RBI in the game.
The Bulls coughed up the two run lead in the top of the fifth inning. It took three pitchers to retire the Red Wings in the fifth, as they collected two runs, on two singles a walk and a hits batsman, and tied the score at three.
The game was at a standstill until the bottom of the seventh. In a hustle play, Rich Thompson led off with a bunt single and then stole second base with Anderson up. The Red Wings chose to intentionally walk Anderson to face Henry Wrigley. Wrigley smashed the first pitch he saw for a single to right, scoring Thompson to give the Bulls a 4-3 walk off win.
Durham and Rochester will play the final game of the series on Monday night at the DBAP. RHP Liam Hendrick (7-0, 1.74) is slated to go for the Red Wings against RHP Matt Torra (8-6, 4.37). Game time is set for 7:05pm.