Albie!

Craig Albernaz and Bo, 2009

Season: 19-10; Road Trip: 4-3

Wrap, Box

Let’s jump to just a couple of important highlights for Bulls fans — Kinas and Albernaz.

I only got to listen to bits and pieces of the game as I roamed around Wake County yesterday afternoon. That croaking voice coming out of the radio was Patrick Kinas’ after all. We talk about players fighting through the pain, but this was a broadcaster staying on the air. Not a lot of depth on that bench (Bench? What bench? We ain’t got no stinkin’ benches.)

Down on the field, Craig Albernaz started at catcher for the Bulls and another team’s scouting report failed them. PawSox shortstop Jose Iglesias attempted a steal; Albernaz threw him out. Even better, in the 9th Albernaz reached first on a walk and stole second! He reached third on a Rich Thompson ground out and came home on a Jason Bourgois single. Great day for one of our favorite players.

Meanwhile, J.D. Martin who was to begin the year as a reliever, has established himself as a terrific starting pitcher. He let one bases-empty home run out of the park, and otherwise kept a lid on the PawSox after the Bulls jumped on the PawSox starter for three runs in the first inning.

Outside the game —

• Former Durham Bull and WDBB favorite Fernando Perez is back in professional baseball playing for the Sugar Land Skeeters over in Texas. Playing for former Durham Bulls hitting coach Gary Gaetti. He hit his first home run of the year yesterday. In fact, it was his first home run since May 8, 2011 when he was playing for the Iowa Cubs. Great to see him in baseball again!
• The Norfolk Tides lost,  putting the Bulls back into a tie for first place in the South Division.