Scranton's Fire Power Too Much For Bulls

DURHAM, NC - For the second straight night the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees got out to an early lead and applied continuous offensive pressure, defeating the Bulls 9-4 on Wednesday night at the DBAP. Veteran Ramon Ortiz (4-3, 3.52) earned his fourth win of the season as all but one batter in the Yankees lineup had a hit in the game.

Scranton/WB put a run on the board in the second inning thanks to a solo blast by Russell Branyan. It was Branyan's third home run of the season and his third in three at bats dating back to last night. The Yankees would score twice in the third, fifth, and seventh innings. Catcher Francisco Cervelli matched a season-high 3 RBI game with a 1-for-4 performance.

Lance Pendleton (2-2, 3.55) suffered his second loss of the season, lasting 5 2/3 innings and allowing five earned runs. The Houston native struck out seven batters for the third straight game, but gave up nine hits and four free passes. Stephen Vogt extended his personal season-high hitting streak to seven games with triple in the fourth inning.

Down 7-1 after the seventh inning stretch, the Bulls would try to attempt a comeback. Henry Wrigley led off with a double, his second hit of the game, and would be brought home thanks to a sacrifice fly by Chris Gimenez. The team entered the inning with only two hits on the night, but strung together four more to bring the game within four.

Branyan and the Yankees would immediately take back the two runs the Bulls scored in the bottom of the seventh. The Yankees scored two in the eighth, one on an RBI single from Branyan, to put the game out of reach.

Wrigley did homer for the second straight night, a solo shot in the bottom of the 8th, his fifth of the year. He finished the night with his second straight multi-hit game, going 3-for-4 with 2 R, 2 RBI, a 2B and a HR and is now on a five game hitting streak.

The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees and Bulls continue their series on 80's Night at the DBAP on Thursday night. RHP Nelson Figueroa (3-2, 4.41) gets the nod for the Yankees against RHP Jim Paduch (2-3, 3.82) for the Bulls. Game time is set for 7:05pm.