Maile, Bulls come back for eighth straight win
The Durham Bulls won their eighth straight game Thursday night, defeating the Charlotte Knights 5-4 in the first game of a four-game set at the DBAP.
Trailing 4-2 entering the bottom of the seventh inning, Durham (67-66) rallied for three runs to take the lead. Richie Shaffer walked to lead off the frame, before Jake Elmore and Corey Brown knocked back-to-back singles to load the bases. Shaffer scored on a wild pitch to bring the deficit to one, and after a strikeout, Luke Maile delivered a two-run single to right-centerfield for a 5-4 lead.
The Knights (69-64) scored the game’s first run on an RBI single by Matt Davidson in the first inning. The Bulls countered with a pair in the bottom of the third on a two-run double by Mikie Mahtook, before Charlotte tacked on a run in the fourth and a pair in the fifth to take a two-run lead.
Lefty CJ Riefenhauser (4-2) earned the win with 11/3 scoreless frames out of the bullpen, and Jim Miller picked up his fourth save of the campaign with a perfect ninth inning. Right-hander Kyle Drabek (7-9) took the loss for the visitors, allowing five runs on seven hits over 61/3 frames, exiting after Maile’s go-ahead single.
The two teams are back at it Friday when Durham sends LHP Matt Moore (2-2, 3.71) to the mound against RHP Brad Penny (6-8, 4.18) for Charlotte. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. at the DBAP.
Thursday’s box score
Charlotte Knights | ab | r | h | bi |
Johnson, 2B | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
Garcia, CF | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Coats, RF | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Davidson, 3B | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Viciedo, 1B | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Brantly, DH | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Tuiasosopo, LF | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Smith, C | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
Garcia, SS | 4 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
Totals | 36 | 4 | 10 | 4 |
Durham Bulls | ab | r | h | bi |
Mahtook, LF | 4 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
Brett, 2B | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
Franklin, SS | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Motter, 3B | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Shaffer, RF | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Elmore, 1B | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Brown, DH | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
Rickard, CF | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Maile, C | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
Totals | 27 | 5 | 8 | 4 |
Charlotte | 100 | 120 | 000 | — | 4 | 10 | 0 |
Durham | 022 | 000 | 30X | — | 5 | 8 | 2 |
E — Franklin, Motter. DP– Charlotte 2, Durham 1. LOB–Charlotte 10, Durham 4. 2B–Viciedo, Garcia Mahtook. SB–Johnson 1 (27). CS—Johnson. PO—Casey
CharlotteIP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | |
Drabek (L, 7-9) | 61/3 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 5 |
Chalas | 2/3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Casey | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
DurhamIP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | |
Diamond | 5 | 9 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
Markel | 12/3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
Riefenhauser (W, 4-2) | 11/3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Miller (S, 4) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
This story was originally published August 27, 2015 at 10:52 PM with the headline "Maile, Bulls come back for eighth straight win."