Vanden Hurk, Indians Silence Bulls 4-0
Vanden Hurk (W, 3-0) was called upon to start after a two-hour, 13-minute rain delay before the first pitch forced a change of plans with major league rehabber Jeff Karstens scheduled to start. However, with the rain and extended night, the Pirates opted for Vanden Hurk, who retired 14 straight Bulls at one point in the game.
Durham (23-32) dropped the series 3-1, and lost the season-series to the Indians (31-22) 6-2. Thursday night's game was Durham's final game against the Indians in 2012.
Matt Torra (L, 4-6) saw his string of scoreless innings end at 12 1/3 when the Indians' Jeff Larish doubled home Yamaico Navarro from first base to give Indy a 1-0 lead.
The Indians scored twice more in the third against Torra thanks to four singles. Run-scoring hits came from Chase d'Arnaud and Alex Presley.
Meanwhile, the Bulls managed just four hits against Vanden Hurk, Duke Welker and Bryan Morris. Durham stranded the bases loaded in the sixth when Leslie Anderson popped out to left to end the inning. In the eighth, Matt Mangini singled and Cole Figueroa walked to start the frame, but the Bulls could not convert.
Josh Lueke pitched the final 2 2/3 innings, permitting a run in the seventh on a triple by Brian Friday.
The 3-3 roadtrip for the Bulls moves into its final city Friday night with Lance Pendleton (1-1, 3.18) starting the opener against the Louisville Bats at 7:05 PM ET.