The Undercards: Shelley Duncan Explodes for 2 HRs, 6 RBI as Bulls Win First Game Post-Wil Myers

Shelley Duncan has put up some solid power numbers during his career, hitting double digit home runs from 2010 through 2012. Last night, he went off, helping to power  the Durham Bulls to a blowout victory over the Louisville Bats.

Durham Bulls 16, Louisville Bats (Reds) 3

The Bulls offense started off hot right off the bat, scoring twice in the first inning as Jason Bourgeois singled to start the first, stole second and moved to third on an error, then scored on a sacrifice fly. Leslie Anderson added an RBI single, and the Bulls took a 2-0 lead. Louisville tied the game in the top of the second, and then the Bulls exploded, scoring six runs in the bottom of the frame. With three runs already in, Shelley Duncan belted a three run home run to give Durham an 8-2 lead. The Bats added another run in the top of the fifth, but the Bulls put the game away in the sixth. Anderson had an RBI triple, and one batter later, Mike Fontenot followed with a three run home run. Duncan added another three run shot of his own in the seventh to cap another four run outburst, as the Bulls cruised to a 16-3 victory. Cory Wade picked up the win, allowing one run on three hits and a walk in 2.2 innings of work. Duncan had a monster game, going 2-3 with two home runs, six RBIs, three runs scored and two walks. Anderson was 3-3 with two walks, three RBIs, three runs scored and a triple.

Montgomery Biscuits 11, Jacksonville Suns (Marlins) 8

Offenses continued to produce in Jacksonville, where the Biscuits also had an offensive explosion of their own. The Suns held a 2-1 lead into the top of the fourth before Montgomery took the lead on a two run single by Riccio Torrez. The Biscuits seemingly locked up the game with a seven run fifth inning. With a run already in, the Biscuits loaded the bases. A walk forced in a run, the Torrez followed with his second two run single. After a sacrifice fly, Robi Estrada hit a two run home run to cap off the scoring. The Suns fought back, scoring a run in the bottom of the sixth before exploding for five runs in the bottom of the seventh, capped by a three run home run by Kyle Jensen. The Biscuits tacked on an insurance run in the ninth, and took an 11-8 victory. Jake Floethe got the win, giving up three runs, two earned, on seven hits, striking out five. Torrez was 2-5 with four RBIs and a run scored, and Kyeong Kang went 2-4 with three runs scored, a double and a home run.

St. Lucie Mets 3, Charlotte Stone Crabs 0

Mets starter Matthew Bowman and Charlotte starter Roberto Gomez were locked in a pitcher’s duel through four innings, as Gomez did not give up a hit until the fourth. Unfortunately, in the fifth, the Mets finally got to him. After a leadoff single, Cam Maron and Albert Cordero hit back to back doubles to break the scoreless tie. Cordero eventually scored on a force out, but the damage had been done. Bowman and the Mets bullpen shut down the Stone Crabs offense, as Charlotte was unable to put together much of a scoring threat. Gomez took the loss, giving up three runs on five hits and a walk over 4.1 innings. Jeff Malm and Drew Vettleson were each 2-4 in the loss.

Hudson Valley Renegades 5, Aberdeen Ironbirds (Orioles) 0

Opening Day could not have gone much better for the Renegades, as they appeared to be in mid-season form. Hudson Valley starter Jordan Harrison and the bullpen dominated the Ironbirds, holding them to two hits all night. The Renegades got on the board in the third, as Jonathan Quinonez led off the inning with a double, moved to third on a fly ball, and scored on a groundout. They added two more in the fourth on an RBI groundout and a throwing error, then put the game away on Granden Goetzman’s RBI triple in the sixth. Goetzman scored as James Harris reached on a fielder’s choice. Harrison earned the win, giving up two hits and a walk over six shutout innings, striking out five. Quinonez was 2-4 with two doubles and a run scored in the victory.