Faria, Decker Pace Bulls Past Chiefs in Finale
DURHAM, NC - The Durham Bulls used a six-run third inning and Jake Faria earned his first Triple-A victory as the Bulls halted a two-game losing skid with an 11-2 victory over the Syracuse Chiefs Wednesday night at the DBAP.
Making his third Triple-A start, Faria (1-0) dealt six innings of one-run ball, striking out nine and walking just one while scattering four hits. The performance lowered the 22-year-old's Triple-A ERA to 0.60, as he's now surrendered just one run over 15 frames.
Syracuse's Trea Turner scored the game's first run in the top of the first inning, but the Bulls pulled even on Luke Maile's RBI double in the second frame. In the third inning Eury Perez doubled for the home side with one out, and two batters later Taylor Motter ripped a two-out RBI double to put Durham in front 2-1.
Durham (38-50) then erupted in the fourth inning, beginning when Dayron Varona scored on a passed ball. After a Jake Hager single scored Jake Goebbert to make it a 4-1 contest, Jaff Decker launched a three-run dinger over the Blue Monster as the Bulls pulled in front for a six-run advantage. Taylor Motter then followed with a walk, and Richie Shaffer's double scored his teammate from first as the Bulls took a commanding 8-1 lead.
The onslaught continued in the eighth inning, as Mayo Acosta's sacrifice fly scored Maile, and Motter's two-run double capped Durham's scoring. In the ninth the Chiefs (39-47) scored once more on Chris Bostick's solo homer to left field.
Decker finished 2-for-4 with a walk, three RBI and two runs scored, while Perez, Motter and Maile all contributed two-hit games as well. The Bulls' 11 runs marked a season-high, and eight of the team's nine batters finished with at least one hit.
AJ Cole (6-5) took the loss for the visitors, surrendering seven runs on six hits and three walks across 3 2/3 frames.
Durham's seven-game homestand continues Thursday when they open up a four-game set with the Pawtucket Red Sox. RHP Eddie Gamboa (3-2, 2.84) takes the mound for the Bulls, while RHP Aaron Wilkerson (4-2, 2.44) pitches for the PawSox. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
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