Indians Silence Bulls Bats; Take Series Opener, 2-1

Indianapolis, IN --- In their first rematch since the 2013 Governor's Cup playoffs, the Indianapolis Indians shaded the Durham Bulls 2-1 at Victory Field on Wednesday night.

The Bulls (40-28) entered the game with the most wins of any Triple-A team, while the Indians (39-27) were again leading the West Division with the second best mark in the International League, and the opener, despite delayed 29 minutes due to cleanup from a pair of rain showers, didn't disappoint.

Durham took a 1-0 lead in the second against Tyler Waldron (W, 2-2) when Vince Belnome cracked a sacrifice fly to right-center to score Wilson Betemit. The frame began with Mikie Mahtook getting hit, but he was then picked off by Waldron before Betemit singled and Curt Casali doubled.

Indianapolis tied the game against Romero (L, 3-7) on an unearned run in the fifth, scoring on a sacrifice fly to right field by Robert Andino. With one out, Mel Rojas and Michael Martinez each singled to right field, then on a grounder to short, Hak-Ju Lee charged and threw to second base, but Jayson Nix dropped the throw for an error to load the bases ahead of Andino's well-struck flyball.

The Indians took a 2-1 lead in the sixth against Romero, capitalizing on a leadoff double by Matt Hague. Tony Sanchez's grounder advanced Hague to third, then with the Bulls infield pulled in, Brent Morel grounded to second to score Hague with the go-ahead run.

Three Indians relievers combined to blank the Bulls the rest of the game, including Andy Oliver (S, 6) who closed out the game on a 6-4-3 double play from Ray Olmedo.

Josh Lueke made his first Bulls appearance since late August, 2013 after being DFA'd by Tampa Bay over the weekend. Lueke retired the side in order in the eighth.

Romero allowed six hits and one walk over six frames, striking out five. Of the two runs against Romero, just one was earned.

The Bulls continue their four-game set against Indianapolis on Thursday night at 7:05 PM ET.