WRAL Sports Fan

WRALSportsFan

Grand Slam, One-Hitter Lead Bulls Over Pawsox, 5-0

Apr 9, 2007

The Bulls dominated on the mound and at the plate with starter Mitch Talbot (1-0) throwing six hitless innings and right fielder Jeremy Owens hitting a grand slam as the Bulls won their third straight game, 5-0 over Pawtucket on Monday night at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park. The Bulls flirted with a combined no-hitter for the second time this season, but Pawtucket third baseman Chad Spann broke it up with a single in the top of the eighth inning.

Talbot had the most impressive Triple-A debut of the Montgomery championship trio that moved up to Durham this season, throwing six innings with no hits, two walks, and four strikeouts.

Right hander Steve Andrade relieved Talbot in the seventh and retired the side with two strikeouts and a fly out. In the eighth, he struck out the first two batters, but gave up a base hit to end the Bulls second combined no-hitter bid since opening night against Syracuse, when starter Jason Hammel threw five hitless innings and reliever Tim Corcoran added two more.

Owens' grand slam came off of Sox starter Abe Alvarez (0-1) in the second. Wes Bankston led the second inning off with a walk, and was moved to third on double by third baseman Joel Guzman. Left fielder Justin Ruggiano then drew a walk to load the bases with no outs. Alvarez almost worked out of the jam by striking out shortstop Jorge Velandia and getting Raul Casanova to fly to right, but Owens sent a high fly ball over the Blue Monster to give the Bulls an early 4-0 lead.

Center fielder Dustan Mohr made the score 5-0 after sending the first pitch in the bottom of the third out of the park.

The Bulls and PawSox will meet again on Tuesday night at 7 PM at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park.