Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Durham Bulls Lose 5-4 To Gwinnett Braves

Durham Bulls[Via email from the Durham Bulls' broadcaster Neil Solondz.]

John Jaso's homer in the seventh off the right field foul pole gave Durham a 4-1 lead, but the Braves scored in their final three at-bats, and beat the Bulls 5-4.

After taking the first two games of this four-game series, Gwinnett is one game ahead of the Bulls in the South Division. It's the first time the Bulls have trailed since the All-Star Break.

The Braves got within 4-2 in the seventh on an RBI groundout by Wes Timmmons, that was set up by a leadoff error, Durham's fourth of the night.

In the eighth, Winston Abreu (3-1), Durham's fourth pitcher, came on for a two-inning save. He allowed the first four batters to reach on two walks and two singles, and got out of the inning with just one run having scored.

However, Abreu, had to throw 24 pitches in that frame, and one pitch into the ninth, Reid Gorecki homered to left, his ninth (and fourth hit of the night) to tie the score. After Timmons lined out to third, Brandon Jones, robbed of a homer in the first inning by Desmond Jennings, hit a walk-off blast to right for the 5-4 victory. It was the first blown save of the season for Abreu, and he had allowed only one homer all year before the ninth inning.

The late rally spoiled a super effort by Calvin Medlock and Julio DePaula, who allowed only one run in six innings with Carlos Hernandez unable to make his start due to a finger injury.

Durham had a 3-0 lead on RBI singles in the second by Ray Olmedo and Desmond Jennings and a sac fly in the third from Elliot Johnson.

Durham will look to move back into a first-place tie with Gwinnett on Wednesday at 7 p.m. as Jason Cromer takes the mound against Jo-Jo Reyes in a battle of lefties. The game can be heard on 99.9 the Fan ESPN Radio.

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