Eight Unanswered Runs Trip Up Bulls; Norfolk Wins Opener, 10-6

Norfolk, VA --- The Norfolk Tides roared back from a 6-2 deficit to beat the Durham Bulls 10-6 in the series opener at Harbor Park on Monday night. 
Trailing 6-4 in the sixth, the Tides (4-8) scored six times against relievers Colin Poche and Hoby Milner to seize command of the game. The first five batters reached against Poche (L, 0-1), then Milner permitted three more singles before the inning closed.
Durham (3-7) took an initial 3-0 lead in the second inning when Mike Brosseau clubbed a deep double to centerfield to score Christian Arroyo and Kean Wong. Andrew Velazquez followed with a two-out run-scoring double to stake Jake Faria to a three-run cushion.
The Tides connected for consecutive homers in the third against Faria. DJ Stewart homered into the right field bullpen, followed immediately by a Ryan Mountcastle home run into the left field bullpen.
Durham quickly rebuilt its lead on a long three-run shot to left by Jake Smolinski for a 6-2 advantage.
Faria departed after 3 2/3 innings, permitting four runs (three earned), walking five and striking out seven. Poche relieved to strike out Chance Sisco with two aboard to escape the fourth with a 6-4 lead.
Poche absorbed the loss in relief by surrendering five earned runs in 1 1/3 innings. Pitching to a 1.08 ERA in 28 games with Durham last year, Poche allowed just six earned runs all year. He has permitted six in his first three appearances of 2019.
Brosseau had two of Durham's 10 hits, collecting a single and a double. Nate Lowe and Andrew Velazquez each had two doubles.
The Bulls pitching staff allowed double-figure runs for the fifth time in 10 games this season.
The series continues Tuesday night at 6:35 PM ET with the Bulls starting an opener for the first time this year. Gabriel Ynoa (1-0, 4.91) will oppose for Norfolk.