Bulls Defensive Mistakes Lead to a 7-2 Defeat Versus Jacksonville

DURHAM NC – The Durham Bulls (5-3) dropped their second straight game to the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp (6-2) by a score of 7-2 in game one of their Thursday night doubleheader at Durham Bulls Athletic Park.

It was a game of mental mistakes for the Bulls, including a balk, a dropped popup, and miscommunication covering first base off a bunt. The down night for the Bulls defense gave the Jumbo Shrimp extended opportunities, and they took advantage by turning the mistakes into runs. They entered the night committing just one error in the first seven games, and they had two in a shortened seven-inning game. The bats were silenced as well, delivering two runs off six hits.  

Adrian De Horta toed the rubber for the Bulls, entering the start since being drafted in 2013. He had a 10-16 record and a 4.91 career ERA in the Minors. De Horta struggled with injuries during the offseason and did not receive many reps during the 2021 Spring Training.

He would last two innings in the contest giving up one hit, two runs (one earned), four walks, and three strikeouts. He walked the leadoff batter in both innings, and it was clear his command was off due to a lack of workload heading into the regular season. In the first inning, De Horta allowed his only earned run off a single from the bat of Eddy Alvarez to give the Jumbo Shrimp an early advantage 1-0.

Nick Neidert was the opposing pitcher for the Jumbo Shrimp, and it was his first start of the season in Triple A. Neidert spent half of April in the big leagues with the Miami Marlins, logging in three starts going 0-1 with a 6.75 ERA. The former second-round pick registered a quality start pitching five strong innings surrendering six hits, two earned runs, two walks, and struck out five. 

It did not take long for manager Brady Williams to make his first pitching change as he pulled De Horta after the second inning. The Bulls would utilize four pitchers out of the bullpen in Brian Moran, Dietrich Enns, Phoenix Sanders, and Stetson Allie.

In the top half of the third 32-year old left-hander, Brian Moran entered the game, making it his fifth appearance in eight games. Heading into the game, he supported a 5.40 ERA in three 1/3 innings with five strikeouts. Lewin Diaz, the first batter the veteran faced belted his fourth home run of the season to lead off the inning to extend the lead to 3-0.

Neidert experienced his first and only jam in the bottom of the third, as the Bulls finally started to get the bats going. The Bulls piled up back-to-back singles to lead off the inning from Esteban Quiroz and Vidal Brujan. In his Bulls debut, Quiroz recorded two hits in a productive night out of the ninth spot. Wander Franco, who had two hits off Neidert, walked to load up the bases with nobody out for right fielder Josh Lowe. Lowe put the Bulls on the board off a ground out to third base to score Quiroz. The RBI brought Lowe’s season total to nine.

The Jumbo Shrimp responded quickly, putting up two runs in the fourth and an additional run in the fifth to give them a 6-1 lead. Diaz, Jazz Chisholm Jr., and Deven Marrero were responsible for knocking in the Jacksonville runs.

The Bulls and Jumbo Shrimp exchanged runs in the later stages of the game. Dalton Kelly knocked Franco in off a groundball in the fifth for Durham, and a throwing error by Bulls catcher Brett Sullivan in the top of the seventh scored Brian Miller to solidify the game to the final score of 7-2.   

The Bulls will attempt to avoid dropping three straight against Jacksonville. They will host them once again to complete the doubleheader and search for their first victory at Durham Bulls Athletic Park in 2021.