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Bulls Sweep PawSox in Doubleheader

Durham pitches shutout in Game One, takes Game Two in nail biter
July 9, 2016

DURHAM, NC - The Durham Bulls beat the Pawtucket Red Sox twice Saturday night at the DBAP, earning a 3-0 win in Game One of a modified doubleheader before battling for a 5-4 victory in Game Two.

The Bulls (40-51) earned a 3-0 victory in Game One, after they scored two runs in Friday night's suspended game before plating one more run Saturday evening. In the first inning Richie Shaffer doubled home Jaff Decker, and one batter later JP Arencibia ripped a single to score Shaffer for a 2-0 lead. In the eighth Shaffer struck again, this time launching a solo homer over the Blue Monster.

Austin Pruitt started for the Bulls and tossed three innings and allowed just two hits before the rain suspended the contest. On Saturday Eddie Gamboa (4-2) tossed five innings and struck out five to pick up the victory, while Danny Farquhar earned his second save of the campaign with a perfect ninth inning.

In Game Two the PawSox (46-44) were the first team to score, taking a 2-0 lead in the second inning before Arencibia's solo homer in the bottom of the frame cut the deficit to one. The home side proceeded to take the lead in the third inning, as Arencibia's single scored Taylor Motter, and Dayron Varona lifted a sac fly to right to score Decker.

Pawtucket came back with a pair in the top of the fourth frame to re-take the lead though, but once again Durham struck back with two runs. Daniel Robertson's sacrifice fly to center scored Luke Maile, and two batters later Shaffer doubled to center to score Jake Hager for a one-run advantage.

In the seventh and final frame the PawSox put runners on first and second, but Adam Kolarek struck out Rusney Castillo to end the ballgame and preserve the victory for the Bulls.

Kyle Winkler (1-0) picked up the victory for Durham in his Bulls 2016 debut, despite allowing two runs in 1 1/3 inning of relief. Kolarek earned his first save of the campaign after working around a pair of walks in the seventh, while Roenis Elias (6-4) suffered the loss by surrendering five runs on eight hits in five innings.

The teams close the series on Sunday when LHP Justin Marks (2-8, 4.54) takes the mound for the Bulls against RHP William Cuevas (5-3, 3.59) for the PawSox. First pitch is scheduled for 5:05 p.m.

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