Tides And Bulls Split Twin Bill

DURHAM, NC - In a baseball packed day in Downtown Durham, the Bulls and Norfolk Tides split Sunday's doubleheader at the DBAP. In the first game, a resumption of Saturday night's suspended contest, the Tides followed through to defeat the Bulls 5-2. After a break, the two teams played a seven inning contest, where Durham beat Norfolk by a score of 2-1.

Norfolk started the first game with a 3-0 lead, which was held over from Saturday night. Jhonny Nunez replaced the yesterday' starter, Matt Torra (2-3, 5.45), and tossed 3.0 scoreless innings. The Tides would put up two more in the top of the 8th inning off of newly converted reliever, Alex Torres. Durham would fought back in the bottom of the frame. With runners on first and second, catcher Stephen Vogt smashed a two-out double off of the video board in right field, scoring Kyle Hudson and Jesus Feliciano to bring the game within three. The next inning, the Bulls would once again attempt to rally. The team had runners at the corners and the tying run at the plate with two outs, when Kyle Hudson hit into a double play to end the game.

Game two was a different story. Lance Pendleton (1-1, 4.38) earned the win and combined with John Gaub, Ryan Reid, and Dane De La Rosa for a 2-1 win over the Tides, with only the help of two Bulls hits. Durham got on the board in the bottom of the third, practicing classic baseball fundamentals. Jeff Salazar singled to lead off the inning and was moved over via sacrifice bunt from Craig Albernaz. Salazar advanced to third on a wild pitch and was then brought home from a sacrifice fly by leadoff hitter Cole Figueroa.

In the fifth, Matt Mangini smashed his first home run of the season to left center field to give the Bulls an insurance run. The run would prove to be vital as the Tides would string together a few hits in the top of the seventh to make it a 2-1 game. Reid walked Jai Miller to put two on with two outs in top of the seventh before De La Rosa (S, 3) came in to lock things down. He struck out Allan de San Miguel to end the game and secure the Bulls win. Durham ended up 5-5 on the homestand.

The Durham Bulls head out on the road tomorrow for the second time this season. The team will travel to upstate New York to take on the Syracuse Chiefs in a four game series. Durham will send RHP Jim Paduch (1-0, 1.13), who pitched five scoreless innings in his last outing, to take on the Chiefs' LHP Zach Duke (2-1, 4.18). Patrick Kinas will call all the action on the home of the Bulls, 620 The Buzz.