Five-Run Eighth Lifts Durham Past Louisville, 8-4

Louisville, KY --- The Durham Bulls struck for five runs on four doubles in the eighth inning to open up an 8-2 lead over the Louisville Bats, eventually settling with an 8-4 road trip-opening victory at Slugger Field on Tuesday night.
The Bulls (38-30) never trailed, assuming a 1-0 lead in the first on a single by Kean Wong. Durham moved ahead 3-0 in the fourth inning on a sacrifice fly by Nick Ciuffo and a single to center by Michael Russell.
After a two-run homer by Louisville's DJ Peterson in the fourth inning, Ryan Weber (W, 3-3) focused in over his last three innings of work. Weber worked 5 1/3 innings, allowing four hits and two runs to earn the victory. Kyle Bird threw a scoreless first inning as the Bulls' opener.
Entering the eighth inning with five singles, the Bulls clubbed four doubles in the eighth alone, including three straight to begin the inning against lefty reliever Kyle Crockett. Ji-Man Choi slapped a double down the left field line to start the inning. Jason Coats then sailed a double over Phillip Ervin's head in centerfield, which was followed by an RBI-double from Brandon Lowe to advance the lead to 5-2. After a pitching change, Roberto Peña singled home a run, followed by a two-run double from Andrew Velazquez to cap the five-run frame.
Steve Selsky hit a two-run homer in the ninth against Hunter Wood.
After a 1-5 homestand, the Bulls started their six-game road trip through Louisville and Indianapolis with a win, their sixth in eight games against the Bats (25-41).  
Durham's lead in the South Division grew to 1 1/2 games over Norfolk, which lost in Indianapolis on Tuesday night.
Yonny Chirinos (0-1, 4.41) starts Wednesday afternoon against Louisville's Justin Nicolino (2-4, 4.50). The first pitch is scheduled for noon.