Schultz, Varona Key As Bulls Snap Streak

Louisville, KY --- Jaime Schultz threw six scoreless innings, while Dayron Varona tunred in three sparkling defensive plays to lead the Durham Bulls past the Louisville Bats 3-1 at Slugger Field on Saturday night.

Schultz (W, 3-1) extended his scoreless streak to 11 innings by permitting just two hits and two walks.  

Taylor Motter connected for a two-run homer in the sixth to break the scoreless tie, then Kyle Roller devoured a Layne Somsen pitch in the ninth for his third of the year.

But the highlights of the night for the Bulls (11-13) was the left field play of Varona. The record button started for Varona in the second inning, when he streaked in front of Jaff Decker to catch a flyball in left center, and punctuated the catch with a strike to first base to double up a runner. On the next pitch, Varona zoomed into foul grounds, sliding to make a catch on a pop up by Ramon Cabrera. The crescendo of Varona's glovework was in the sixth when he leaped back against the wall to rob a home run from Jose Peraza.

The Bulls needed one more defensive play to help snap their five-game losing streak. Leading 2-0 in the seventh, Decker sped into left center and slid into a catch to end the inning, stranding the tying runs aboard.

The loss snapped a six-game winning streak for Louisville (12-9).

The Bulls close out a quick two-game series at Slugger Field on Sunday afternoon at 2:05 PM ET with Austin Pruitt (2-1, 3.57) opposing Cody Reed (1-0, 2.79).