Five-Run First Powers Mal de Ojo

DURHAM, NC - The Durham Bulls snapped a five-game losing streak, rolling over the Buffalo Bisons by a final score of 9-2 Friday night at the DBAP. Bulls starter Arturo Reyes (7-5) recorded the victory, while Bisons starter Nick Kingham (0-1) took the loss.
Playing as Mal de Ojo de Durham on Latino Heritage Weekend, Dalton Kelly set the tone for the Durham victory right off the bat with a solo home run leading off the bottom of the first inning. Kevin Padlo drove in another run on an RBI single to make it 2-0, and Nathan Lukes burst the game open with a three-run home run to make it 5-0 after an inning of play.
The Bisons got on the board in the fourth inning with a Rowdy Tellez blast over the Blue Monster to cut the deficit to four. However, the Bulls continued the pile on the runs, beginning with a Kean Wong RBI triple to take a 6-1 lead in the bottom of the frame. Joe McCarthy delivered another run on an RBI single later in the inning, and Padlo drove in two more on an RBI double to take a 9-1 advantage.
Tellez was able to drive in a run for the Bisons on a sacrifice fly to make it 9-2 in the eighth, but that was as close as the visitors would come. Reyes pitched the longest start of the season for Durham, going 7.1 innings, allowing six hits and one earned run, while striking out seven in the victory.
The Bulls will play the Bisons in game two of a three-game series on Saturday night at the DBAP, with first pitch scheduled for 6:35. Right-hander José De León will start for the Bulls and face off against Bisons right-hander Sean Reid-Foley.