Bateman Does a Bateman

Game 131: Bulls 4, Tides 2
Season: 74-58
Games Left in Season: 12; Home Games: 7
Wrap, Box

Joe Bateman’s appeared in 41 games for the Durham Bulls this season, so we should be used to this by now. But we aren’t. At least I’m not. Last night he did it again. The Bulls were up 4-2 going into the bottom of the 9th. Both Thayer and Abreu had pitched in Syracuse the night before, so Bateman was up. Now what usually happens whenever he comes in is that Joe gives up a hit or two, or a walk or two, or hits a batter or two (he’s hit 8 so far this season, and leads Bulls pitching in that category). Last night he started out with a fly out to center and a pop up to the catcher. Two outs, bases empty, but this is Joe Bateman on the mound.

Norfolk’s Freddy Guzman hit a single and then stole second. Joey Gathright hit a single sending Guzman to third. Then Gathright stole second. Tying runs on base, the winning run, Justin Turner, at the plate.

Turner hits one back to Bateman who tosses it to first. Game over. Heart rate goes back down to semi-normal.

Interesting game for several reasons. First of all, it made for three in a row taking us to 16 above .500 and, with their loss to Charlotte, one game back of Gwinnett.

New guy Jeff Bennett got his second start (still not sure if he’s supposed to be a starter or reliever) and his first win for the Bulls. Looked pretty good. Chris Richard was back in the lineup for the first time in a week. He got on base twice with a walk and hit by pitch.

Fernando Perez scored on a Joe Dillon single in the first. We picked up two runs in the fourth on a bases-loaded single by Ray Olmedo and a bases-loaded walk to Perez. Then Jon Weber hit his 14th homer in the 5th.

Joe Dillon again demonstrated that sometimes smarts are as important as speed. He stole his third base since coming back to Durham.

Rhyne Hughes tried to make someone regret trading him (The Bulls didn’t have anything to do with it Rhyne!) by hitting a two-run homer in the 6th for Norfolk’s only runs.

Elliott Johnson came off the DL, but did not play. Henry Mateo went on the DL for a hurt hand.

Webworld:

• Over at RaysIndex there’s a poll on what outfielder should be called up in September. Note that Jon Weber is not on the list. Grumble, grumble, grumble.