Phegley's Go-Homer Sinks Bulls, 5-2
Fort Mill, SC --- Charlotte's Josh Phegley hit a three-run homer in the bottom of the 11th inning to deal the Durham Bulls a 5-2 defeat on Sunday afternoon at Knights Stadium.
Phegley's heroics were set up by a one-out walk and a single permitted by Jim Paduch (L, 1-1). Phegley needed only a sacrifice fly to win it with the outfield in a very shallow formation, but drilled a 1-2 pitch from Paduch over the left field wall for his 4th homer of the season.
The Knights (4-7) lead the series 2-0, and have beaten the Bulls (7-4) 14 straight games at Knights Stadium.
The loss ruined a terrific start by lefty Alex Torres, who whiffed eight against no walks over six scoreless innings. Torres has not allowed a run in 11 innings thus far in 2013.
Durham took a 2-0 lead against Charlotte starter Jason Berken with a pair of unearned runs in the fifth. Hak-Ju Lee doubled against the right field wall with one out, and then advanced to third on an error by third baseman Brent Morel. Juan Apodaca bounced softly to third base, and Morel elected to throw against Lee retreating to second base, but the throw deflected into right field. Rich Thompson then executed a safety squeeze bunt to score Lee from third and move Apodaca into scoring position. Jason Bourgeois followed with a single to centerfield to score the second run to give the Bulls a 2-0 lead.
Torres was replaced by Frank DeLosSantos to begin the seventh, but it was the eighth that brought the Knights back. DeLosSantos failed to retire either of the two lefties he faced to start the inning, walking Bryan Anderson and then allowing a double to Jim Gallagher. After DeLosSantos fanned Luis Durango, Josh Lueke entered the game to face Drew Garcia. Lueke went to a full count before Garcia drove a double off the base of the centerfield wall for a two-run double, tying the game 2-2.
The series continues from Knights Stadium on Monday night at 7:15 PM ET with Chris Archer (2-0, 4.50) starting against Zach Stewart (0-1, 6.30).