Durham Comes From Behind To Halt Chiefs Streak
After falling behind 3-0 in the second inning, Durham chipped away at Tanner Roark (4-10, 5.33) and the Chiefs thanks to an unearned run in the bottom of the fifth. Rich Thompson climbed aboard with a two out single and then promptly stole his first of two bases in the game. Chris Marrero bobbled a ground ball from Henry Wrigley, allowing Thompson to score and cut the lead to two.
Roark, who becomes the International League's first ten game loser, plunked Chris Gimenez to begin the sixth. After loading the bases full of Bulls, Roark was lifted and replaced by Erik Arnesen. Arnesen allowed all three inherited runners to score. Thompson stepped up to the plate and smacked a single to left field, bringing the Bulls within one. Fellow outfielder Jesus Feliciano then followed with a two run single up the middle, allowing the Bulls to grab a 4-3 lead, their first of the night.
The Bulls originally listed starter, Lance Pendleton (4-2, 3.27), kept the Chiefs in check all night. He tossed 4.2 IP of shutout ball, allowing just three hits, while striking out two. Frank De Los Santos picked him up, entering the game with a runner in scoring position and two outs in the top of the eighth. De Los Santos retired the final batter of the eighth and then first two hitters is the 9th before he was replaced by newly named International League All-Star Dane De La Rosa.
De La Rosa allowed a base hit to Marrero, but then struck out Mark Teahen on his way to his team-leading eighth save of the season. Rehabbing reliever Kyle Farnsworth tossed a scoreless third inning in the victory, allowing a single, but striking out two. He tossed 17 pitches in the effort, 13 for strikes. The Bulls are now 5-1 on the homestand.
The Chiefs and Bulls return to the DBAP on Thursday night for game three of the series. RHP Yunesky Maya (5-5, 3.55) will take the hill for the Chiefs against the reigning International Pitcher of the Week, RHP Jim Paduch (4-5, 4.18). Game time is set for 7:05pm.