- Photo by Al Drago
- Stephen Vogt led the Bulls with a double and a single for two RBI.
DBAP/ DURHAM The Durham Bulls square off again against the Lehigh Valley IronPigs in a battle of International League Division leaders.
At least the weather is cooler under cloudy skies as the Bulls try to avenge a 5-3 loss from a night earlier, in which fans thought a bad call at the plate in the eighth inning cost the home team a chance to win.
Lehigh Valley comes in leading the Pawtucket Red Sox by a game and a half in the North Division, while the Bulls have the same advantage over the Gwinnett Braves in the South.
Ryan Reid (1-0, 4.11) will get the spot start for the Bulls, while the IronPigs will counter with Nate Bump (3-7, 5.27).
Tonight it goes the IronPigs’ way once again, as the Bulls can’t get anything out of the final three innings in a 4-3 defeat.
The Bulls take a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the third on a two-out double from Stephen Vogt.
But the IronPigs tie it in the fifth on an RBI single from Freddy Galvis and an RBI double from Pete Orr.
Durham goes up once again in the sixth, as Daniel Mayora scores off eventual winner Joe Savery (3-0) by stealing third and continuing home on a throwing error to catcher Dane Sardinha.
But the visitors win it with a pair of runs in the seventh off Joe Bateman (0-2), with the tying run scoring on Brandon Moss’ single and the winner coming across on Kevin Frandsen’s double.
The IronPigs out-hit the Bulls 11-9. Orr and Frandsen each double and single with an RBI.
Vogt leads the Bulls with a double and a single for two RBI, while Mayora and Ray Olmedo each added two hits.
They said it …
Bulls manager Charlie Montoyo: “We lost the battle of the bullpens tonight. I think all their guys are 6-5 and throw 90-something. Our bullpen didn’t do a good job, plus we made a couple of errors. When you make errors against good teams they take advantage. Reid did his job. He kept us in the game. … Vogt is great, and he’s a great kid. But we need to get it going better offensively at home.
Lehigh Valley manager Ryne Sandberg: “Our bullpen has been our bright spot all year. We’ve had some good arms coming out of there and they’ve been steady. That’s been our mainstay all year long. We just take a glimpse at the standings right now, but there’s no reason for us to change anything. The guys need to continue to get their work in and continue on the path we’ve been on.”
Vogt: “My time here has been pretty good since I got promoted. I’ve seen some good pitchers and been able to put the ball in play. I didn’t know what to expect at this level, but Charlie sat me down and said, ‘Hey, look, don’t give anybody any credit and keep your same approach.”
What does it all mean?
That the IronPigs are doing very well so far in the battle of division leaders.
Stars of the game
1. Orr.
2. Frandsen.
3. Vogt.
Play of the game
Frandsen’s double in the seventh.
Series record
Lehigh Valley wins 4-2.
Streaks
Bulls: Lost 2.
Lehigh Valley: Won 2.
On deck
Bulls (Matt Torra 0-1, 6.29) vs. Lehigh Valley (Ryan Feierabend 9-6, 5.53), Saturday, 7:05 p.m.