The BULLS took an early 5-0 lead - Chris Richard's three-run triple against a struggling Ryan Bukvich was the crucial hit. Jon Weber added an opposite-field home run in the third to make it 7-0, and strong pitching from David Price helped seal the win. Mike Costanzo's two-run double in the fourth prevented the shutout, and Chris Heintz added a two-run single in the sixth. Heintz's two-run double in the seventh and Luis Terrero's RBI triple left the Tides poised for a possible comeback, but it was too late.
Perfect Price? Pretty close.
The No. 1 overall pick in the 2007 draft built quite a college resume at Vanderbilt. Although Price left as the school's all-time leader in strikeouts and was named the nation's top collegiate player, the southpaw had little to show at the Triple-A level. Despite going 11-0 in his first 15 starts as a professional, Price had yet to win at Triple-A. He was 0-1, and the Bulls hadn't won in three games with him on the mound.
Price proved why he is considered the major leagues' top prospect, going five innings, allowing four hits, two runs and striking out five to get the victory.
Bad outing for Bukvich
Entering Thursday 's game, Bukvich had allowed just three hits and one walk with five strikeouts in six shutout innings against Durham. In the first inning alone, the Bulls pounded him for five hits and five runs before he recorded an out. The last time the Tides allowed five runs in an inning was Aug. 6 at Columbus. Norfolk lost that game 6-0. Bukvich was done after three innings. He took the loss.
NO BULL
No team in the International League's South Division has swept Durham this season.
Tides honored
Three Norfolk players were honored before the game. Oscar Salazar, who was out of the lineup with a calf injury, received his award for team MVP. Chris Roberson won the team's Gold Glove award and Andy Mitchell was named Tides most valuable pitcher.
- Amber Kuehn
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