It just wasn’t the Durham Bulls’ night.
Justin Morneau had the best game of his current rehab stint with the Rochester Red Wings, cracking three hits including a ninth-inning homer with three RBI as the Red Wings won 11-3.
The result, which ended the Bulls’ four-game winning streak, left them with a two-game lead over the second-place Gwinnett Braves in the International League’s South Division race.
Earlier in the day, Bulls shortstop Reid Brignac was recalled to Tampa Bay. Replacing him on the Bulls’ roster was shortstop Tim Beckham, who was the overall No. 1 pick in the 2008 draft. Beckham is scheduled to be in the Bulls’ lineup Thursday.
Cole DeVries (4-2) was the winning pitcher in relief. Ryan Reid (1-1) took the loss, allowing four runs – one earned – in two-plus innings on no hits with six walks against a pair of strikeouts.
“After the first two outs of the second I started losing my release point,” Reid said. “I was sweating out there. I’ve got to be able to find a way to come back. I was excited to go against Morneau (who fouled out and walked against Reid). The first time up, he spit on some of my best stuff. Then (Lance) Cormier jammed him and he took it out of the park.”
Dustin Martin added two hits including a double with a pair of RBI in the Red Wings’ eight-hit attack.
The Bulls finished with 12 hits. Nevin Ashley had three hits including a ninth-inning homer while Russ Canzler added two hits including a ninth-inning homer that was his 16th clout of the season.
“It’s all about starting pitching, whether they give you a chance or they don’t,” Bulls manager Charlie Montoyo said. “(Reid) looked so good in the first two innings and then he lost it. I don’t blame the umpire. I’ll be the first one to blame the umpire when they have to be blamed, but not tonight. “We swung the bats good. We also hit it right at people. But it’s tough when you’re behind like that.”
The finale of the four-game set is on Thursday night at 7:05 p.m. Matt Torra (1-1, 5.64) will go for the Bulls against Liam Hendricks (2-1, 6.23).
Also, the Bulls have begun selling tickets for the Governors’ Cup Playoffs which begin Sept. 7.
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