Cole, Indians Shutout Martin, Bulls, 1-0
Indianapolis, IN --- A fourth inning double by Indianapolis outfielder Felix Pie drove in the only run of the game as the Indians blanked the Durham Bulls 1-0 on Wednesday afternoon.
In a game that featured the International League's leading winner, Durham's JD Martin and 2011's #1 overall pick Gerrit Cole for Indianapolis, the game lived up to its billing.
The only blemish of the game came in the fourth, when Martin hit Josh Harrison with an 0-2 pitch, then a wild pickoff throw moved Harrison to third. After a strikeout, Pie grounded a controversial double over the first base bag to score Pie with the game's only run.
Martin worked the longest start of any Bull pitcher this season, 7 2/3 innings, relieved by Jeff Beliveau, who struck out Pie to end the eighth.
The Bulls managed five hits in the game, three off of Cole, who signed for $8 million as the top pick in the draft from UCLA two years ago. Cole threw 95 pitches over seven scoreless innings, fanning three and walking one.
Martin, denied his 8th win, gave up just the one unearned run, walking one, fanning two and permitting six hits.
The Bulls pushed just one baserunner into scoring position in the game, with Rich Thompson singling to lead off the game and being bunted to second.
Wil Myers 12-game hitting streak ended, going 0-4.
The series continues Thursday night with Jake Odorizzi (4-1) starting for the Bulls against Jason McDonald on a major league rehab assignment for the Pittsburgh Pirates. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM ET.