Bulls Charge Past Tides in 10-Inning Affair
NORFOLK, VA - After squandering an early lead, the Durham Bulls notched a 6-5, 10-inning victory against the Norfolk Tides Monday afternoon at Harbor Park.
With two outs in the top of the 10th inning, Robby Price delivered a single to shallow center field, scoring Mikie Mahtook to put the Bulls ahead 6-5. In the bottom of the frame, RHP Kirby Yates retired the Tides in order to record his seventh save in as many chances as Durham won the four-game set three games to one.
The Bulls (14-5), took the early lead plating a run in the first inning on an RBI single from Ray Olmedo. In the third Durham struck again, this time on an RBI single from Cole Figueroa and when Olmedo scored on an errant pickoff throw to take a 3-0 lead.
However the Tides (5-13), chipped away with a run in the third and the fourth each, but the Bulls got both of them back in the fifth behind a sacrifice fly from Jerry Sands and a wild pitch that scored Olmedo, as Durham retook a three-run advantage at 5-2.
Norfolk came all the way back to tie the affair in the sixth inning however, plating three runs behind three hits and a wild pitch, knotting the score at five apiece.
In just his second appearance with Durham, RHP Doug Mathis (1-0) earned the win after turning in a perfect ninth inning, while LHP Kelvin De La Cruz (0-2) suffered the loss after allowing one run on three hits in the 10th.
Justin Christian led the way for Durham, going 4-for-6 with three doubles and three runs scored, while Olmedo had a three-hit day and Figueroa finished 2-for-5.
The Bulls begin the second half of their eight-game road trip Tuesday, when they take on the Charlotte Knights at BB&T Ballpark. RHP Merrill Kelly (3-0, 1.50) gets the ball for Durham against RHP Dylan Axelrod (1-1, 4.50) for the Knights. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m.