WRAL Sports Fan

WRALSportsFan

Seven-Run Seventh Beats Syracuse

May 20, 2007

Joel Guzman homered to start a seven-run rally in the 7th, as the Bulls beat Syracuse 10-3 on Sunday.

Guzman homered to left after Brent Butler doubled to break a 3-3 tie against Ty Taubenheim (2-4). Durham then scored five more runs against the Chiefs bullpen, all with two out. Justin Ruggiano doubled home a pair of runs against Ryan Houston to make it 7-3, and Wes Bankston then added another run-scoring two-base hit to score Ruggiano. Chris Richard then hit his team-leading seventh homer off lefty Mike Venafro to cap the seven-run uprising.

The rally made a winner out of Andy Sonnanstine (6-2), now tied for the IL lead in victories. Syracuse had tied the score in the fourth against Sonnanstine on a three-run homer by Wayne Lydon that followed a pair of walks. Sonnanstine pitched out of trouble, giving up seven hits and three walks, and did not have a 1-2-3 frame.

Durham had taken a 3-0 advantage on a homer by catcher Josh Johnson in the third, and RBI singles in the fourth by Richard and Guzman. Richard and Brent Butler each had three hits, and Guzman and Richard drove in three runs each. Meanwhile, Jeff Ridgway and Steve Andrade followed Sonnanstine with three innings of perfect relief.

Durham will look to get to 3-3 on their 11-game road trip on Monday as Mitch Talbot starts for the Bulls.