DURHAM -- What had the makings of a storybook ending on a special night for the Durham Bulls died at the edge of the warning track in left field.
With the bases loaded and two out in the bottom of the ninth, Durham's Joe Dillon lifted a fly ball that came up just short Thursday as the Norfolk Tides won 6-4 to spoil a Bulls home opener that was surrounded by good vibes.
"When he first hit it, I thought for sure [it was gone]," said Bulls designated hitter Dan Johnson, who hit a solo home run in the fourth inning.
It was a disappointing ending after a crowd announced at 9,080 showed up to see the defending Triple-A champs on a gorgeous night at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park. An appearance by Duke's NCAA basketball champions added to the energy at the stadium.
Durham even came into the game with a four-game winning streak.
But the night turned sour early as right-handed starter Jeff Bennett walked the first two batters on eight straight pitches.
Durham's Charlie Montoyo, who'd been presented with Baseball America's 2009 minor league manager of the year award before the game, quickly had to make a difficult decision.
Bennett (0-2), who'd also struggled in his previous start five days earlier at Norfolk, was removed from the game with what was described as "general tightness."
"He [usually] throws 92, 93 [mph], and he was throwing 87," Montoyo said. "It was obvious that something was bothering him."
Reliever Brian Baker gave up RBI doubles to Lou Montanez and Rhyne Hughes, and the Bulls trailed 4-0 before coming to the plate for the first time this season in their home stadium.
Durham (5-3) generated excitement when Hank Blalock hit an RBI single in the third, and Johnson drove his third home run of the season to right field in the fourth to make the score 4-2.
But in the sixth, Norfolk's Robert Andino ripped an RBI triple and scored on a single by Adam Donachie to restore the four-run lead. Tides right-hander Alfredo Simon (1-0), who underwent "Tommy John" surgery to repair a ligament in his elbow on May 5, 2009, scattered six hits in six innings to earn the win for the Tides (4-4).
"He throws 95," Montoyo said. "He's got good stuff. That's one of those guys, he could pitch in the big leagues with what he's got."
Two-out, RBI singles by Justin Ruggiano and Hank Blalock cut the deficit to 6-4 in the ninth. But left-hander Alberto Castillo coaxed Dillon's fly out to record his second save.
"That's what the game's about, stay in it," Johnson said. "We kept within one swing. We got the chance for it, and we almost walked it off there. That was very close to being a four-run homer, and it went their way."
