DURHAM, NC - Brandon Snyder got the Durham Bulls (2-3) going with a three-run home run in the first inning Tuesday afternoon at Durham Bulls Athletic Park, but the Gwinnett Stripers (2-2) rallied with five unanswered runs to win the second game of a three-game series 5-4. Johnny Field doubled and
DURHAM, NC - Brandon Snyder got the Durham Bulls (2-3) going with a three-run home run in the first inning Tuesday afternoon at Durham Bulls Athletic Park, but the Gwinnett Stripers (2-2) rallied with five unanswered runs to win the second game of a three-game series 5-4.
Johnny Field doubled and scored on a sacrifice fly by Curt Casali, extending the Bulls lead to 4-0 through two innings. Christian Arroyo posted his first multi-hit game as a Bull, going 3 for 4 with two singles and a double.
In the fourth inning the Atlanta Braves No. 1 prospect Ronald Acuña Jr. doubled for his first hit of the season, advanced to third on a ground out and scored on a sacrifice fly by Carlos Franco. Tyler Smith drove in the second run with an RBI double in the fifth cutting the Bulls lead to 4-2.
Johan Camargo led off the sixth inning with a solo-homer, pulling the Stripers within one run, 4-3. Adam Kolarek made his third appearance of the season and held the Stripers in check in the sixth, allowing one hit with two strikeouts, before Ian Gibaut delivered a scoreless frame, allowing one hit in the seventh.
Rio Ruiz hit is first home run of the season in the eighth inning, a two-run shot that gave the Stripers a 5-4 lead. Miguel Socolovich and Jesse Biddle held the Bulls scoreless through 4.0 innings out of the bullpen, allowing the Stripers to climb in front with five runs on seven hits.
Trailing 5-4 entering the bottom of the ninth, Justin Williams doubled and Jake Bauers and Kean Wong walked to load the bases. Jason Coats then struck out swinging to end the threat, tying the series at one game apiece.
Socolovich (1-1, 4.91) earned the win tossing 3.0 scorelesss innings with three strikeouts. Jaime Schultz (0-1, 0.00) was saddled with the loss as the Stripers and Bulls combined to use nine pitchers during a two hour and 56 minute nail biter that fell the Stripers way.
The Durham Bulls host the Gwinnett Stripers for the rubber match tomorrow at 7:05 p.m. on Bark in the Park at Durham Bulls Athletic Park. Anthony Banda (1-0, 0.00 ERA) is scheduled to start for Durham against Aaron Blair (0-0, 0.00) for Gwinnett.
