WRAL Sports Fan

WRALSportsFan

Bulls Rebound for First Win of the Season, 9-5

Apr 7, 2007

Down 5-4 entering the bottom of the eighth inning, the Bulls offense pounded out five runs to secure a 9-5 victory over the Syracuse Chiefs on Saturday evening at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park.

In the eighth, a fielding error by Chiefs third baseman John Hattig allowed catcher Shawn Riggans to move from first to second and right fielder Justin Ruggiano to get on base. Center fielder Jeremy Owens drove home Riggans after Chiefs reliever Ryan Houston entered the game to replace Beau Kemp (0-1) on the mound. A base hit from second baseman Elliot Johnson brought home Ruggiano, and then Jorge Velandia drew a walk to load the bases. Chris Richard drove Owens home with a sacrifice fly, and Wes Bankston batted in Johnson and Velandia to give the Bulls a 9-5 lead.

Scott Dohmann (1-0) pitched the final one and a third innings to close the game out.

The win was the first of the season for the Bulls, who dropped a heartbreaker on opening night and then lost big to Syracuse on Friday night. The Bulls ended their scoreless streak at 17-innings in the first inning when designated hitter Jorge Cantu hit a sacrifice fly to bring home Johnson in the first.

Bankston also brought the Snorting Bull to life for the first time in 2007 in the third with a two-run home run off of Chiefs starter Josh Banks to put the Bulls up 3-1 early.

Jeff Niemann pitched well in his first Triple-A outing, allowing two runs in five innings while striking out seven. However, he did give up a solo home run to designated hitter John-Ford Griffin in the fourth inning. Reliever Chad Orvella, who allowed the Chiefs to take a 5-4 lead in the seventh, also gave up a solo homer to left fielder Adam Lind in the sixth.

The Bulls and Chiefs will meet again on Sunday evening at 5 PM at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park.