Globe iconLogin iconRecap iconSearch iconTickets icon

Bulls Pen Combines For 6-Hit Shutout

July 23, 2012
DURHAM, NC -Despite a depleted and overworked pitching staff, Charlie Montoyo used four members of his bullpen to shutout the Red Wings 4-0 on Monday's homestand finale at the DBAP. Durham's staff racked up 12 strikeouts in the series clinching win over Rochester.

The Bulls handed Rochester's Liam Hendricks (L, 7-1, 1.84) his first loss of the year, scoring two runs off of the Australian born pitcher. Tim Beckham and Jesus Feliciano clubbed back-to-back doubles in the bottom of the second to produce the first run of the game. Henry Wrigley scored on a Hendricks' wild pitch to put the Bulls up 2-0 in the sixth.

The story of the game though was the Durham relief core, led by Ryan Reid making his third spot start of the season. Filling in for Matt Torra, who had sat out with the flu, Reid continued an eight scoreless inning streak as a starter this season. Josh Lueke (W, 1-3, 5.01) piggybacked Reid and was brilliant. Lueke earned his first win as a Bull, matching his career-high three innings pitched. He held the Wings scoreless in those three frames, striking out one.

In his first game back since injuring his right wrist on April 27th, Nevin Ashley padded the Bulls lead with a 2-run blast over the right field wall in the seventh. His blast provided Adam Liberatore, who was making his third Triple-A appearance, some extra comfort. Liberatore contributed two more scoreless frames, tossing the sixth and seventh innings, allowing only a hit, walking one and striking out three. He gave way to Dane De La Rosa who tossed the final two innings, tallying three more strikeouts for the Bulls and sealing the shutout. In taking three of four this series from Rochester, the Bulls improved to 6-2 against the Red Wings this season. Durham finishes the homestand with a 5-3 mark.

Durham heads down I-85 to take on the Gwinnett Braves for a four game series beginning on Tuesday at 7:05pm. LHP Alex Torres (3-5, 6.79) is slated to take the hill for the Bulls against RHP Julio Teheran (6-5, 4.93).