Bulls score twice in the eighth to edge IronPigs, 3-2

FROM THE MORNING CALL

A lineup that ranks among the most potent in the International League managed to score the tying and winning runs Wednesday night without hitting the ball out of the infield.

Durham used three walks, a bunt single on an attempted sacrifice, and a double-play grounder to score twice in the eighth inning as the Bulls frustrated the IronPigs for the second straight night, rallying for a 3-2 win before 9,336 at Coca-Cola Park.

Durham (64-40) scored four times in the ninth against closer Scott Mathieson to grab a 5-3 win Tuesday.


"We've been right there," said Melvin Dorta, who celebrated his return to the lineup after a 13-game absence with two hits including a solo homer. "That's how this game is. A few little mistakes can really make a difference."

Playing its first game since June 24 without Domonic Brown, who was promoted to the Phillies earlier in the day, the IronPigs (44-61) had just five hits against Durham starter Brian Baker and four relievers.

The IronPigs had a 2-1 lead on solo homers Andy Tracy and Dorta when manager Dave Huppert turned to Mike Zagurski (1-3) to face two lefties in the middle of the Bulls lineup, IL RBI and home run leader Dan Johnson and Chris Richard. But Zagurski walked both on 3-1 counts.

Then, Joe Dillon dropped a bunt up the third-base line, hoping to move both runners into scoring position. He did that — and wound up with a single when Neil Seller's off-balance throw pulled Dorta off first, loading the bases. Zagurski then walked Dioner Navarro on another 3-1 pitch to force in the tying run.

"Nothing good happens when you walk guys, and I walked three tonight," said Zagurski, who thought he didn't get any breaks from home plate umpire Jason Bradley. "I thought I made some quality pitches I would have liked to have," he added.

That brought in Michael Schwimer, who got ex-IronPig J.J. Furmaniak to bounce into the IronPigs' third double play. However, Richard scored from third with what turned out to be the winning run.

"Schwimer did a great job to minimize the damage," Huppert said. "Our bullpen has been our strength all year and the last couple of nights they just didn't get it done; that happens sometimes. You just have to forget about it and come out the next night and do your job."

Baker, making just his fifth start in 30 appearances this year but second against the IronPigs, allowed four hits over five innings, striking out six and walking two.

Tracy had two hits, beginning with a single up the middle in the second. Baker retired the next seven IronPigs he faced before walking John Mayberry Jr. But Mayberry, running on a 2-0 pitch, was caught stealing for the first time in 14 attempts — a move that cost the IronPigs a run when Tracy hit the next pitch high onto the concourse in right center for his 14th homer.

An inning later Dorta jumped on Baker's first pitch of the sixth and lined it just inside the left-field foul pole for his third homer, giving the IronPigs a 2-0 lead.

"The first at-bat I was just trying to see some pitches, and he threw me a first-pitch fastball," said Dorta, who was out with a right wrist sprain. "I looked for that pitch again the next time up and luckily I was able to get my barrel on it."

Lehigh Valley had four baserunners the rest of the way. The IronPigs stranded two runners in the eighth when Chris Aguila lined out to left to end the inning, and Dorta added a one-out single in the ninth off Winston Abreu before Abreu struck out the final batters to wrap up his 14th save.

The IronPigs struck out three times in the ninth for the second straight night and 11 times overall, including three each by Chris Duffy and Sellers.

Brandon Duckworth wasn't quite as dominating as his last start, when he struck out 11 in 5 2/3 innings, but was solid enough to leave with a chance to earn his third straight win. The right-hander scattered seven hits and allowed one run in six innings, walking three and striking out four.

http://www.mcall.com/sports/baseball/ironpigs/mc-ironpigs-0728-20100728,0,98858.story