Durham Drops Finale, Can't Complete Sweep

ROCHESTER, NY - The Durham Bulls saw their winning streak halted at four games, as they dropped the finale of a three-game set to the Rochester Red Wings 6-2 Wednesday afternoon at Frontier Field.

The Red Wings (57-42) jumped on Durham early, scoring two runs in the first inning on an RBI single by Daniel Palka and a run-scoring double off the bat of Adam Walker II. Two innings later the home side increased its lead to 3-0, as Palka struck again with a solo homer over the center field wall.

Rochester plated its fourth run of the contest in the fourth inning, as Tommy Field chipped in a homer to make it a four-run game. In the fifth inning though the Bulls (44-55) cut the deficit in half, as Jaff Decker singled, Dayron Varona doubled, and Nick Franklin drove each of them home on a two-out single to center field.

That would be all the visitors could muster though, as the Red Wings struck for two more runs in the sixth frame to re-take a four-run lead, and avoid a sweep at the hands of the Bulls.

Nick Greenwood (2-1) earned the win for the home side, tossing five innings and allowing two runs on seven hits. Jake Faria (1-2) lost for the second straight start, surrendering six runs on nine hits in five innings while fanning five.

Franklin, Decker and Varona all finished with two hits on the afternoon, accounting for six of Durham's eight hits. The Bulls went just 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position though, while leaving seven men on base.

Durham's 11-game road trip continues Thursday, when they open a four-game set against the Scranton/Wilkes-Barrre RailRiders at 5:05 p.m. at PNC Field. LHP Justin Marks (3-9, 3.84) takes the hill for Durham in his first start since his no-hitter, while RHP Luis Cessa (4-1, 3.02) goes for the RailRiders.