Two in a Row!

Game 55, June 2, DBAP
Gwinnett Braves (Atlanta): 0
Durham Bulls (Tampa Bay): 3
Season: 23–32; Home Stand: 3–1
Wrap, Box, Herald-Sun

Stats:
Game Score: Pruit–78, YTD Avg–58;
Tm OPS: .767;
Tm wOBA: .287

Jaff Decker’s two solo home runs provided the thrills and Austin Pruitt provided the strong right arm for a very good game.

The game also marked just the third time that the Bulls have won two games in a row this year, the last was May 7 & 8 (those two extra-inning marathons against Norfolk). Plus it was just the third shutout for Bulls this year.

Austin Pruitt has emerged as the Bulls most successful pitcher this season. His two starts with Game Scores of 78 are the best by any Bulls pitcher so far.  Over his 11 starts he has a team bests for starters of a WHIP of 1.01, an ERA of 2.48, and FIP of 3.05. For what it’s worth, he’s also the Bulls most “efficient” starting pitcher, using up only 4.73 pitches per out. Oh, he’s picked up 4 wins against 3 losses over the year as well.

Outside the game —

• The Bulls team ERA dropped down to 3.50, exactly the International League average.

I'm obviously a big fan of the Game Score stat. It seems to me to be a straightforward way to look at starting pitchers. Here's how the Bulls crew looks for the year. A Game Score of 50 can be considered to be about the same as a "quality start" in the lingo of broadcasters. Blake Snell is on the 40 man roster and, of course, Matt Andriese isn't with the team any more. These are pretty good numbers.

Just for grins, or groans as the case may be, here are the average game scores of this year's Tampa Bay Rays crew. Matt Andriese shows up on this list as well. Matt Moore's and Chris Archer's troubles are pretty obvious.