Bulls Beat Bisons Behind Eighth-Inning Run

DURHAM, NC - The Durham Bulls scored an unearned run with two outs in the eighth inning to beat the Buffalo Bisons 3-2 Wednesday night at the DBAP.

Tied 2-2 with two outs and nobody on base in the bottom of the eighth inning, Richie Shaffer blooped a single to right field. Nick Franklin then ripped a double down the right field line, and Shaffer halted at third base. The relay throw missed both cutoff men however, and Shaffer scampered home from third base to put the Bulls in front by a run. Buffalo advanced the potential tying run to second base in the top of the ninth, but he was stranded as Durham halted its losing skid at two.

The Bulls (15-19) opened the game's scoring in the fifth inning by scoring a pair. Dayron Varona doubled to lead off the frame, and Kyle Roller reached on an infield single two batters later. With two outs Jaff Decker punched a single up the middle to score Varona for a 1-0 lead, and Daniel Robertson followed with a single of his own to score Roller for a 2-0 advantage.

The Bisons (15-18) scored their first run of the game in the sixth, when Domonic Brown walked, advanced to third on a double and scored on a groundout. The visitors tied the game in the top of the eighth when Dalton Pompey doubled and later scored on a sacrifice fly.

Ryan Garton (1-0) picked up the win in relief for Durham, tossing 1 2/3 scoreless frames to record the game's final five outs. Jaime Schultz pitched well in the start for the Bulls, allowing one run on four hits while striking out seven over six innings. Chad Jenkins (2-1) took the loss for Buffalo, allowing the unearned run in the eighth.

Durham tallied six hits in the contest, coming from six different players. Varona led the charge with a double and a run scored.

The Bulls and Bisons wrap up their series Thursday at the DBAP at 11:05 a.m. RHP Austin Pruitt (2-1, 2.93) takes the hill for Durham opposite LHP Wade LeBlanc (3-1, 2.21) for Buffalo.