A six run inning by the Durham Bulls helped propel them to an 8-3 win over the Louisville Bats Saturday night. The Bulls are now 5-1 against the Bats this season.
After an RBI single from Matt Mangini with the bases loaded started the scoring in the fifth, Scott Carroll came in to pitch for the Bats, replacing Wirfin Obispo. Durham welcomed Carroll to the game with three straight doubles from Cole Figueroa, Jeff Salazar, and Stephen Vogt to make it 8-2, icing the game for the Bulls.
Bats starter Sean Gallagher was roughed up in his 2-2/3 innings of work. Gallagher gave up two runs on ten hits in his second shortest start of the season. Gallagher also ended a streak of three consecutive quality starts. The ten hits he gave up were a season high. The Bats (17-39) lost for the first time in Gallagher’s last three starts, all decisions that went Gallagher’s way.
The hard throwing Obispo was charged with his first loss in a Bats uniform—he has yet to pick up a win. After giving up just two runs in his first five innings with the Bats, Obispo has relinquished seven runs in his last 4-2/3 innings.
The Bats, who have now lost four straight, go for the first win of June Sunday afternoon against the Bulls. They send Jeff Francis (2-6, 4.21 ERA) to the mound against Chris Archer (3-6, 4.76 ERA). The Bats look to avoid being the first team in the International League to lose 40 games. First pitch is set for 2:05.
