Pawtucket Claims Series Opener Over Bulls, 8-2

Pawtucket, RI --- The Pawtucket Red Sox scored six runs in the first inning, leading to an 8-2 victory over the Durham Bulls at McCoy Stadium on Thursday night.
Ivan DeJesus connected for a grand slam against Bulls starter Zach Lee (L, 3-4) to cap the big first inning. Lee lasted 5 1/3 innings, permitting 10 hits and eight runs in absorbing the loss. Jaime Schultz fanned four over 1 2/3 innings of relief work before Austin Pruitt closed a scoreless eighth.
Meanwhile, Durham (67-53) trailed 8-0 before getting on the board late in the game against Pawtucket (58-63) starter Josh D. Smith (W, 8-5). Nate Lowe was hit by a pitch to start the inning, advancing on a walk to Rob Refsnyder. After a wild pitch moved up the runners before a Jason Coats groundout brought Lowe in to score.  
Lowe drilled his organizational-leading 26th home run, a solo home run in the ninth against former UNC Tar Heel pitcher Trevor Kelley. The blast was Lowe's third since his promotion to Triple-A.
Durham's South Division lead shrunk to 3 1/2 as a result of Norfolk's 10-inning win in Scranton.
The Bulls managed just four hits in Thursday's loss.
The season series is tied 2-2 between Durham and the PawSox.
Forrest Snow (5-7, 4.53) opposes Josh A. Smith (4-4, 3.96) Friday night at 7:05 PM ET.