Durham Bulls game

Sat in the stands along the third base line last night, watching the Durham Bulls defeat the Richmond Braves 5-2. Deep blue sky and 82 degrees when we got there, 79 when we left at the top of the ninth. Fastest pitch was 91 mph. Our guy threw 81mph most of the time.

The big excitement came at third base in the fourth inning. As Mike Potter reports, “The Bulls had a chance for a big inning in the fourth, but a baserunning mistake killed it. With one out and Brooks Badeaux on second and Lombard at first, Jason Smith singled to right. Bulls manager Bill Evers held Badeaux after a big turn at third, and Badeaux was caught in a rundown with Lombard continuing to third. With both runners standing on third, Lombard was tagged out, and Badeaux was then tagged out after leaving the bag. That precipitated an animated argument from Evers, who was ejected by plate umpire Don Goller after covering up home plate.” Actually, Evers kicked dirt, with great child-like spite, on home plate after he was ejected.