Colome, Lee Escort Bulls Past Knights, 4-1

Charlotte, NC --- Alex Colome yielded two hits over seven innings to send the Durham Bulls past the Charlotte Knights 4-1 at BB&T Ballpark on Wednesday night.

Colome (W, 5-3) shut down the Knights (50-63) offense over the first five innings en route to his fifth victory of the season. Durham (59-51) scored twice in the second and third innings to hand Colome a comfy lead he would not relinquish.

In the second, Hak-Ju Lee singled home Jayson Nix to put the Bulls ahead 1-0. Justin Christian followed with a two-out RBI double to bring Lee in for a two run advantage.

An inning later, Knights starter Shawn Hill (L, 3-5) permitted three more hits and two runs. Vince Belnome doubled, with Mikie Mahtook singling him to third to start the frame. Wilson Betemit lifted a sacrifice fly to bring Belnome home. With two down, Hill walked Mike Fontenot ahead of Lee's second run-scoring hit of the game to move the Bulls lead to 4-0.

Meanwhile, Colome only allowed one hit through 6 2/3 innings. The Bulls right-hander still faced trouble thanks to five walks and a hit batter, but managed to escape major harm. The Knights pushed across their only run in the sixth on a sacrifice fly by Josh Phegley.

With the victory, the Bulls shuffled the Knights back into last place in the South, and moved 7 1/2 games ahead of second place Norfolk pending the Tides Wednesday night contest.

Belnome, Lee, Nix and Mahtook each had two hits for the Bulls. 

Steve Geltz threw a nine-pitch eighth inning, while Josh Lueke (S, 7) whiffed the side in the ninth to claim his seventh save.

The four-game series continues on Thursday night at 7:05 PM ET with Mike Montgomery (9-3, 3.77) shooting for his 10th win. He'll be opposed by Bobby Doran (2-1, 8.36).