WRAL Sports Fan

WRALSportsFan

Bulls Lose Two Games to Richmond

May 7, 2007

Jason Hammel pitched well on Sunday, but the Bulls lost a 2-0 decision to Richmond after dropping the completion of a suspended contest, 11-2.

The Bulls went 2-4 on a road trip, losing both games to the Braves, now an International League best 20-6. Richmond leads the South Division by 9.5 games over the second-place Bulls.

Hammel (1-3) allowed just two hits over six innings (the game was shortened to seven innings because it followed the completion of a suspended game), but for the third straight start, Durham was shut out with the righty on the mound. Hammel has allowed five runs in three starts over 18 innings during the stretch, but has three hard-luck losses.

Richmond scored both of its runs in the first against Hammel. Gregor Blanco walked, went to second on a Martin Prado single, and both runners moved up on a wild pitch. Bill McCarthy's ground out to second scored Blanco, and Doug Clark's sac fly to center scored Prado.

After a walk to T.J. Both, Hammel retired 16 of 19, but got no support offensively. Durham collected just three hits against Buddy Carlyle, who did not walk a batter while striking out 10. Brent Butler went 2-for-3 for Durham. The Bulls have been shut out six times in 31 games, and have scored three runs or less in 16 of 31 games.

The Bulls dropped the opening game, falling 11-2 in the completion of a suspended contest that resumed with Durham trailing 11-0 in the fourth inning. Raul Casanova and Justin Ruggiano each had two hits.

The Bulls open an eight-game home stand on Monday against Norfolk.