Durham's Streak Snapped in Loss to Charlotte
DURHAM, NC - The Durham Bulls saw their season-high eight-game winning streak come to an end Friday night, falling to the Charlotte Knights 5-2 at the DBAP.
After two scoreless innings, Charlotte (70-64) took the game's first lead in the third inning. Drew Garcia led off the frame with a single, and scored two batters later when Leury Garcia doubled him home. After a strikeout, Garcia advanced to third base on a wild pitch, and later scored on a wild pitch with two away to make it a 2-0 game. The visitors extended their lead in the sixth inning, when Kevan Smith was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and two outs.
Durham (67-67) came back in the seventh stanza, when Taylor Motter doubled and later scored on a single by Corey Brown. After a single and a walk loaded the bases, Luke Maile drew a walk to score Brown and cut the deficit to 3-2.
The Knights added some insurance in the eighth and ninth innings, as Matt Tuiasosopo delivered an RBI single in the eighth and Leury Garcia cracked a solo homer in the ninth.
Righty Brad Penny (7-8) picked up the win for Charlotte, allowing two runs on five hits over 6 2/3 innings, while Zach Phillips earned his 11th save of the season with a scoreless ninth. Southpaw Matt Moore (2-3) took the loss for Durham, surrendering three runs (two earned) on four hits over 6 1/3 frames.
Brown finished 2-for-3 for the second straight night, while Jake Elmore tallied Durham's only other multi-hit game with a 2-for-4 effort.
The third game of the four-game set is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. Saturday at the DBAP, when the Bulls send LHP Everett Teaford (5-8, 5.34) to the hill against RHP Scott Carroll (6-4, 3.56) for the Knights.