Sixth Inning Outburst Lifts Bulls Past Red Wings

DURHAM, NC - The Durham Bulls scored five runs in the sixth inning, fending off the Rochester Red Wings for a 5-4 win Monday evening at the DBAP and earning their fourth straight victory.

Rochester scored a pair in the first inning off of Matt Andriese for a 2-0 lead, but the right-hander held them scoreless over his final four frames. In the sixth, Durham (25-22) plated all five of their runs, as the first six men of the inning reached safely on a hit. Luke Maile kicked things off with a single, before Juniel Querecuto doubled down the leftfield line for his first Triple-A hit. Taylor Motter then tied the game with a single to centerfield, before Leonardo Reginatto and Eugenio Velez each singled to load the bases. Curt Casali then put Durham ahead for good with a two-run double, before scoring three batters later on a sacrifice fly from Richie Shaffer.

The Red Wings (25-20) made it a two-run game in the eighth, before cutting the lead to 5-4 in the ninth on a solo home run from Kennys Vargas. That was all the visitors would get however, dropping the first game of the four-game set.

Andriese took the no-decision, surrendering just two runs on three hits over five innings, retiring 13 of the final 14 batters he faced. Jim Miller (2-0) earned the win with a pair of scoreless frames, while Ronald Belisario picked up his ninth save of the year. Jason Wheeler (1-3) suffered the loss for Rochester, allowing five runs on seven hits in five-plus innings.

The series continues Tuesday when the Bulls send RHP Dylan Floro (3-4, 3.83) to the hill opposite LHP Lester Oliveros (2-0, 1.86) for the Red Wings. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.