Bulls' Struggles With Chiefs Continue in Shutout Loss

DURHAM, N.C. - The first-place Durham Bulls dropped their season-high sixth straight game Sunday evening at the DBAP, falling 9-0 to the Syracuse Chiefs.

The lopsided loss continued the Bulls' struggles against the Chiefs this season, as Syracuse swept the Bulls in four games in Syracuse in early May, and has now won the first three games in Durham by a combined 33-5 score.

Steven Souza Jr. hit a solo homer off the Snorting Bull in the first inning to put the Chiefs (46-30) ahead early, before Syracuse added two more in the second as both runs scored on a throwing error.

The 3-0 advantage held until the fifth when the visitors struck for three more, before plating another run in the sixth and two more in the eighth to close out the scoring in the blowout.

Durham (43-35) starter Jeremy Hellickson (0-3) continued his struggles in his third MLB rehab start, suffering the loss after allowing six runs on eight hits in five innings while striking out seven.

Chiefs starter Blake Treinen (4-0) struck out eight over six innings of three-hit ball, allowing only three Bulls to reach second base to earn the win.

The Bulls look to snap their skid and salvage the final game of the four-game series against the Chiefs Monday at 1:05 p.m. LHP Mike Montgomery (8-1, 3.38) starts for the Bulls against LHP Aaron Laffey (9-3, 3.08) for Syracuse.