WRAL Sports Fan

Bulls

Bulls Score Early and Often to Sweep the Norfolk Tides.

Apr 22, 2000

The Durham Bulls have now scored in the first inning in eight of their last nine games. With strong pitching by Bulls starter Mickey Callaway, Mike Duvall and closer Bill Taylor, the Bulls were able to sweep the Tides and up their record to 9-4. The Bulls continue to pace the South Division of the International League two games better than the Charlotte Knights.
Randy Winn started off the game with a single to left field and then scored on a James Buccheri triple that hit off the top of the center field wall. Jose Guillen continued where he left off Saturday night with a sac fly scoring Buccheri. The Bulls were off and running 2-0.
The Tides were able to put three on the board in their half of the first when Chris Sheff hit an RBI double to right field and Mark Johnson crushed a two run home run that cleared the right field wall and ended up in the Chesapeake Bay.
The Bulls took the lead again for good in the second inning. Ozzie Timmons, playing first base, hit a solo home run to begin the inning tying the game at three. Hot hitting James Buccheri doubled home catcher Neil Garcia from second and the Bulls never looked back.
Randy Winn was 4-for-5 Sunday with two RBI including his fourth homerun, his league leading seventh double and fourth stolen base. Buccheri also had two RBI Sunday on two hits, a double and a triple.
Jose Guillen had seven RBI in the two game series. Guillen hit for the cycle Saturday night including a three run triple in the eighth inning. Sunday it appeared the Tides pitchers were staying away from him intentionally walking him once and hitting him in the ninth inning after Winn's home run. He was able to crush a RBI double in the fourth inning off the center field wall. In the six games since joining the Bulls Guillen is bating .500, 13-for-26, with three doubles, two triples, three home runs and 12 RBI. Look for Guillen to be the International League Batter of the Week for the past week.
Mickey Callaway (2-0) was able to shake off a three run first inning and pitch a strong game to earn his second win of the year. Mike Duvall came into the game with two outs in the fifth inning and only gave up one hit while striking out two in his 2.1 innings of work. Closer Bill Taylor pitched the ninth inning fanning two including Mark Johnson, with the bases loaded to end the game. Taylor picked up his third save of the season.
The Bulls return to the DBAP Monday, April 24 for a five game series against the Richmond Braves and another weekend series against the Norfolk Tides April 29 and 30. Scheduled to pitch for Durham Monday is RHP Marc Valdes (1-1, 2.45) against TBA for Richmond. ILYM