Durham -- Bulls' relief pitcher Joe Bateman, starting in place of an injured Carlos Hernandez, combined with three other relievers to hold the Yankees to six hits to lead Durham to a 5-2 victory at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park on Sunday. It was Durham's second win of the four-game series.
Durham racked up 10 hits and scored at least a run in the third, fourth, fifth and sixth innings. Justin Ruggiano's 14th home run of the season gave the Bulls a 2-0 lead in the fourth as Ruggiano's blast scored Henry Mateo. Ruggiano finished 2-for-4 with two RBIs.
The Bulls added another run in the fourth when Ray Olmedo's single scored Joe Dillon, and Chris Richard singled to drive in Ruggiano in the fifth inning to give the Bulls a 4-0 lead. Desmond Jennings scored the final run in the sixth inning after his steal of third base resulted in a wild throw by Yankess catcher Chris Stewart.
Bateman pitched 3 1/3 innings allowing only two hits and a walk while striking out five. Calvin Medlock (3-1) followed with 1 2/3 scoreless innings, and Joe Nelson pitched the next 1 2/3 innings and allowing a pair of runs in the seventh.
Dillon finished the game 3-for-4 and Mateo was 2-for-3.
Winston Abreu pitched the final 2 1/3 innings, allowing no runs or hits to pick up his 11th save.
Russ Ortiz (2-1) took his first loss of the season allowing four runs (three earned) on nine hits and two walks while striking out three.
The Bulls and Yankees complete their series tonight at 7:05 p.m. at Durham Bulls Athletic Park.
