Shane Baz Racks Up 10 K’s But Still Not Enough as Bulls Fall to Jacksonville

JACKSONVILLE FL – Shane Baz (ND, 1-0) had himself a brilliant evening on the mound on Sunday, but the Durham Bulls (31-16) were unable to hold on to a 2-0 lead, dropping the final game of the series 3-2 to the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp (26-20). The loss concluded the series as the Bulls and Jumbo Shrimp split, each taking three games. It was one that the Bulls wish they had back as the Jumbo Shrimp marched back, scoring two runs late in the game in the 7th and 9th innings and later added another in the 10th to log in the extra-inning victory. The two clubs combined for five runs off 12 hits as it was a pitcher’s duel for most of the contest.

Baz, the 22-year-old right-hander, continued his tear at the Triple-A level recording a career-high 10 strikeouts while firing five shutout innings. In 71 pitches, he threw 48 for strikes and did not issue a single walk. The only damage done versus Baz was Ryan Miller’s leadoff single in the 1st inning and an Isan Diaz leadoff double in the 2nd being the only two base runners against him all night. Following the Diaz single, he sat down the final 12 batters he faced, fanning seven of them.

It was his second straight outing going at least 5 innings. In three starts with the Bulls, Baz carries a 1-0 record with a miraculous 1.29 ERA and has piled up 20 punchouts in 14 frames. The dynamic duo of Baz and Luis Patino on the bump is beginning to look dangerous for the rest of the league. However, if the two keep on throwing as well as they are, they should be on their way to Tampa Bay sooner rather than later.

The former 2017 12th overall pick is projected to be a starter in the MLB as he has been his entire minor league career but will most likely start in the bullpen with the Rays if he received a late-season call-up. His overpowering fastball to go with his nasty slider, which he kept low and away most of the night, has been a deadly combination and almost impossible for opposing lineups to have any production.

For the Bulls offense, both of their runs came in the top half of the 1st inning with Nathan Lukes staying red hot, smacking an RBI double, and another base knock hit by Josh Lowe. After coming out hot, the Bulls hitters were shut out the next 9 innings.

Even with the loss, the emergence of Shane Baz is something to take notice of as we may be witnessing a potential superstar in the making with our very eyes. The Bulls will take a much-needed off-day on Monday and will come back on Tuesday as they return to Durham to take on the Gwinnett Stripers (22-25), beginning a six-game series.