Bulls Blanked by Tides as Bats Fall Silent
DURHAM, NC - The Durham Bulls fell to the Norfolk Tides 6-0 Wednesday night at the DBAP, spoiling the visitor's perfect game and no-hit bid by getting a pair of baserunners in the bottom of the ninth.
After Tyler Wilson and Edgar Olmos combined to retire the first 24 Bulls to come to the plate, Tom Gorzelanny took the hill in the ninth for Norfolk (46-65). The left-hander retired the first batter he faced, but Eury Perez reached on a one-out fielding error by third baseman Michael Almanzar to break up the perfect game. Juniel Querecuto then singled through the left side for Durham, as the Tides saw a perfect game and no-hitter slip away within two consecutive batters. The next two Durham hitters went down in order, as the Bulls were shut out for the second time in their last three games, and dropped their third straight contest.
Wilson (1-0) earned the win with five perfect innings, striking out six, while Olmos struck out four over his three frames. Austin Pruitt (8-7) suffered the loss for the home side, allowing six runs on eight hits in six innings.
The Tides opened the game's scoring in the second inning when Francisco Pena blasted a solo homer to center field. In the third the visitors erupted for four runs, as Christian Walker's single scored a pair, and Corban Joseph lifted a two-run home run to right for a 5-0 lead. Trey Mancini then hit a solo dinger in the fifth to extend Norfolk's lead to six.
Steve Geltz, Neil Wagner and Dana Eveland all tossed a scoreless inning out of the bullpen for the Bulls (51-61), who dropped to 6-13 against the Tides in 2016.
The series closes Thursday when Durham sends RHP Eddie Gamboa (4-3, 2.71) to the hill opposite RHP Odrisamer Despaigne (1-6, 3.59) takes the mound for Norfolk. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
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