RaysBB.com

Welcome to the 2010 Season for the Durham Bulls, AAA International League Affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays!

Durham's schedule to open the 2010 season is:

• April 8-11 at Norfolk Tides (BAL)
• April 12-14 at Gwinnet Braves (ATL)
• April 15-18 vs Norfolk Tides (BAL)
• April 19-20 at Charlotte Knights (CHA)
• April 21-22 vs Charlotte Knights (CHA)
• April 23-26 vs Gwinnet Braves (ATL)
• April 27-30 at Buffalo Bisons (NYN)

The Coaches are all returnees from last season:

• 31 - Xavier Hernandez (Pitching)
• 25 - Charlie Montoyo (Manager)
• 22 - Dave Myers (Hitting)

The Roster as of 8 Apr 10 (from DBulls.com):

• 23 - Abreu, Winston
• 14 - Baker, Brian
• 21 - Bateman, Joe
• 47 - Bennett, Jeff
• 39 - Benoit, Joaquin
• 15 - Blalock, Hank
• 30 - Chavez, Angel
• 35 - Colina, Alvin
• Cromer, Jason (DL)
• 32 - De Los Santos, Richard
• 26 - Dillon, Joe
• 12 - Eldridge, Rashad
• Furmaniak, J.J. (DL)
• 28 - Hellickson, Jeremy
• 37 - Hernandez, Carlos
• 10 - Jaso, John
• 4 - Jennings, Desmond (DL)
• 29 - Johnson, Elliot
• 24 - Johnson, Dan
• 41 - Nowak, Chris
• 7 - Perez, Fernando
• 43 - Phillips, Heath
• 27 - Richard, Chris
• 16 - Rollins, Heath
• 11 - Ruggiano, Justin
• 44 - Shealy, Ryan
• Swindle, R.J. (DL)
• 17 - Thayer, Dale
• 34 - Vasquez, Virgil

In addition, Matt Joyce begins a rehab assignment with Durham today, also.

Jeremy Hellickson is the starter for the season opener against Norfolk's Chris Tillman.

Durham (1-0) won the season opener over Norfolk, 5-3: Recap, Box

Hellickson went 5 innings, giving up 2 runs (1 earned). Benoit pitched 2 innings, and all of his outs were strikeouts. Ruggiano, Blalock and Dillon each had two hits.

Six K's in two innings by Benoit is nice. Hopefully he'll take Ekstrom's spot in the Rays pen pretty soon.

Durham (1-1) came up short to Norfolk, 6-4: Recap, Box

The Bulls went ahead 4-3 in the top of the 7th, but Heath Rollins gave the lead back in the bottom of the frame. Dan "The Legend" Johnson went 3-4 with a homer; Ryan Shealy had two doubles.

Durham (1-2) was hammered by Norfolk, 12-3: Recap, Box

Jeff Bennett got the start and served up 6 runs in his six innings, and then was topped by Richard de los Santos, who gave up 6 of his own in only 2 innings. Matt Joyce started as the DH and was hit by Norfolk's Alfredo Simon in the 1st. He was replaced by his next at-bat with Alvin Colina. Fernando Perez, Chris Richard and John Jaso each had two hits.

Durham (2-2) came back to .500 with a win over Norfolk, 3-2: Recap, Box.

SP Virgil Vasquez went 5.2 IP, giving up 1. Benoit had another scoreless outing, 1.1 IP & 3 K. 2B Joe Dillon had 2 2B.

Durham (3-2) used a 4-run 7th to beat Gwinnett, 4-2: Recap, Box.

SP Carlos Hernandez allowed the Braves' 2 runs over his 5 innings. 2B Joe Dillon was 2-5 with the 2B that scored the Bulls' last 2 runs in the 7th; SS Angel Chavez was 3-4. RP Joaquin Benoit worked another scoreless inning for his first save (his first back-to-back outing), although he did allow two hits.

April 13:

Durham (4-2) beat da Braves in Gwinnett, 3-1. Recap, Box.

Hellboy picked up his second win of the season, going 6.1 with 7 Ks and 1 run. 3B Dan Johnson was 2-4 with a HR; LF Rashad Eldridge went 2-3.

People complain about our lack of bullpen depth at the major league level but when Howell comes back from the DL, and Hellboy gets called up from Durham, with Soriano closing out the end of games, not to even mention Sonny, we will have SO MANY weapons.

April 14:
Durham (5-2) completed a sweep of Gwinnett, 3-1 in 10 innings. Recap, Box.

SP Heath Phillips went 7.2 innings on 96 pitches, allowing only a solo homer with no outs in the 8th. Justin Ruggiano drove in the winning runs in the top of the 10th with a 2B, scoring Craig Albernaz and Joe Dillon.

April 15:
Durham (5-3) lost to Norfolk, 6-4: Recap, Box

SP Jeff Bennett left the game with tightness after walking the first two batters (who both eventually scored). RP Brian Baker didn't help the cause. DH Dan Johnson homered; LF Elliot Johnson snapped a long funk with a 2-4 night; CF Juston Ruggiano also had 2 hits.

April 16:
Durham (6-3) avenged the prior day with 6 runs in the 1st inning and allowed Norfolk as close as 7-5, eventually tallying 20 hits on the way to a win, 14-7: Recap, Box

SP Virgil Vasquez numbers weren't impressive, but he did get the win despite allowing 5 runs (3 earned) 5 innings. 3B Angel Chavez committed 2 fielding errors, but was also 3-4 with a BB; CF `Nando was 2-6 with a 2B; DH Hank Blalock and 1B Ryan Shealy both went 3-5; LF Dan Johnson hit his 4th HR. Actually, every batter in the starting lineup had at least 1 hit.

April 17:

Durham (7-3) defeated Norfolk agains, 7-2: Recap, Box

SP Carlos Hernandez went 6 innings with 1 run, 5 hits and 5 K. CF Justin Ruggiano and SS Elliot Johnson both had their first HRs of the season; C Jose Lobaton, just up from Montgomery, went 1-2 with 2 walks; 3B Hank Blalock was 2-5.

April 18:

Durham (8-3) took their 3rd-straight over Norfolk, 10-1: Recap, Box

SP Jeremy Hellickson's only run allowed came on a 1st inning homer by Norfolk RF Rhyne Hughes; otherwise, he went 7.2 and struck out 8. CF Desmond Jennings returned to action (his season debut), going 1-3 with a 2B, 2 BB, and 2 runs scored; RF Fernando Perez was 2-3 with a BB; C Alvin Colina and SS Elliot Johnson had 2 hits each; 3B Hank Blalock had his 4th RBI. Norfolk SP Chris Tillman was knocked out after only 1 inning following 4 Durham runs.

When the hell did Rhyne Hughes start playing right field?

This year, it would seem. Looks like it's the only defensive position he's been at so far.

Already has 3 errors, too.