Bulls Drop Rain-Shortened Game

DURHAM, NC - The Durham Bulls allowed eight runs in the top of the seventh inning and fell to the Gwinnett Stripers 8-5 in a rain-shortened game on Bunch of Jerks Night at the DBAP Friday. Jeremy Walker (2-1) recorded the victory for the Stripers, while Peter Fairbanks (0-2) suffered the loss for the Bulls.
In front of a paid attendance of 10,376, Dalton Kelly gave the Bulls an early lead, tallying an RBI single in the bottom of the second inning to take a 1-0 advantage. The scoring continued in the bottom of the sixth inning, where Rocky Gale drove in a run on an RBI single and Nathan Lukes added one of his own to make it 3-0. Emilio Bonifácio tacked on two more with a double to make it 5-0.
The Stripers mounted a comeback in the seventh inning though, scoring eight runs that began with a Cristian Pache three-run double. Luis Marté drove in another with an RBI single to make it 5-4. Johan Camargo put the Stripers on top with a two-run double to make it 6-5, before Pedro Florimón added on another run with an RBI single. Lucas Duda added the insurance with an RBI single to make it 8-5.
After the seventh inning concluded the game entered a rain delay and the tarp was put on the field. After a one hour and 18-minute delay the game was called, giving Gwinnett a seven-inning victory in the first game of the three-game set.
The Bulls and Stripers will meet for game two of the series on Saturday night at 6:35 at the DBAP. Right-hander Ricardo Pinto will make the start for the Bulls and is due to face Stripers right-hander Ian Anderson.