Great Week in Durham, Syracuse Next

The Bulls went 5-1 and moved up from 16th to 6th in the 20-team International League standings. 

Certainly yesterday’s bizarre bottom-of-the-9th was the oddity of the week. The Bulls were trailing 1-3, with one of those runs most annoyingly scored on a balk back in the 7th. Nick Dini singled and then moved to 2B when Tristan Grey drew a walk. Kyle Manzardo struck out, but then Kameron Misner doubled to center, Dina scored, Tristan Gray to 3B. Curtis Meade came in to bat for Tanner Murray. In a move that the IronPigs surely came to regret, Meade was given an intentional walk. Makes sense, of course, since it loaded the bases to allow for a double play to end inning. Even better, the next batter, Ruben Cardenas struck out. Bases loaded, 2 outs, Bulls still behind 2-3.

Osleivis Basabe, he of the bright, bright, orange cleats, walks. Game is tied. Ben Gamel walks on the next four pitches. Wins the game.

Matchup

The Bulls are off to Syracuse, New York to play the Mets. They are doing well this year. 

About this season

Just a few thoughts about just how weird this season is going to be for International League fans. First of all, the basic numbers: 20 teams, no divisions. Teams play 6-game sets (mostly). In a 150-game season, that’s roughly 25 sets of 6 games. But the plan this year is to have two 75-game seasons and for the winners of the two seasons to play each other for the championship. That means the Bulls will play one 3-game set (already done) and 12 6-game sets (2 down, 10 to go). The first half wraps up at the end of June. By that time the Bulls will have had a home and away with Syracuse, Memphis, Jacksonville, Charlotte, and Norfolk. Not bad. On the other hand, the Bulls will not see Lehigh Valley again. The “traditional” rivalries of Gwinnett, Charlotte, and Norfolk will be observed. But there are too many “what-if’s” to mention.