Matt Moore was as good as advertised once again.
The lefty went 6 2/3 innings and allowed two runs on five hits, striking out 10 without a walk as the Durham Bulls held off the Lehigh Valley IronPigs 6-4 to gain a split of their four-game series.
The win gave the Bulls a 2 ½-game lead over the Gwinnett Braves, leaving Durham with a magic number of 29 to clinch the International League’s South Division.
“I just went out there with one thing in my mind – I wanted to have command of three pitches,” Moore said. “Going into the bullpen I wasn’t very good. I was just looking to get my body warmed up. I was on my way out there hoping I could figure it out in the eight pitches I had before the game. It was big that we won the last two in the series. ”
Moore got the offensive support he needed. Russ Canzler led the way his 15th homer of the season, a double, a single and a walk with two RBI and three runs scored. Stephen Vogt also homered for Durham, while Leslie Anderson chipped in a pair of hits and Daniel Mayora a double.
“There was a low probability I was going to hit a triple on my last AB,” Canzler said. “But I think we did a good job that last inning of producing a run (in the eighth). Those guys were doing a good job getting themselves back into the game. I feel like I’m doing a pretty good job. As an athlete you always feel like you can do better, but hopefully I’m showing these guys I can play at this level.”
Rob Delaney earned his fifth save of the season for the Bulls.
Starter Ryan Edell (3-4) took the loss for the IronPigs, who got a ninth-inning homer from Erik Kratz.
“Great game by Moore,” Bulls manager Charlie Montoyo said. “And the bullpen did an outstanding job to save the game for him. Delaney has been lights-out. We came back to tie the series against a good team with good pitching. Canzler did a good job, and the ball that Vogt hit was big.”
The Bulls open their four-game series with the Rochester Red Wings on Monday at 7:05 p.m., with lefty Alex Torres (7-6, 2.98) taking on Rochester’s Eric Hacker (6-10, 5.56).
Justin Morneau will be on Major League rehab with the Red Wings while catcher John Jaso will be on the same rehab with the Bulls, although Jaso will not play in Monday’s contest. Jaso is scheduled to be with the team two weeks.
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