Bulls Falter Against Rail Riders, 6-5

Moosic, PA -- Ike Davis capped a four-run fifth innign with a two-run homer to right to lift the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Rail Riders past the Durham Bulls 5-4 before 10,000 on Satruday night at PNC Field.

Leading 3-1 with two outs in the fifth, Gary Sanchez dropped a two-run single to short right field to tie the game ahead of Davis' line drive home run that barely cleared the top of the wall inside the line.

With the Bulls' defeat, along with Charlotte's loss in Indianapolis, the Gwinnett Braves moved into the South Division lead by 1/2 game.

Durham (45-57) loaded the bases in the eighth inning with none out, poised to tie or go ahead. Richie Shaffer drew a walk to force in a run to make it 5-4 before Johnathan Holder (S, 1) entered to strike out Johnny Field and Hank Conger and escape the inning with a groundout to second.

Inside the game's first four innings, the Bulls lost four baserunners to mistakes. One was doubled off second on a line drive double play, two were picked off bases on the same play in the third, and another broke for second base too early attempting to steal.

The Bulls took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first when Daniel Robertson scored from first base on an errant throw from shortstop Pete Kozma at first base. The Rail Riders (63-38) evened the game in the bottom half.

Durham went ahead 2-1 in the third on a single by JP Arencibia, who extended his hitting streak to nine. The lead was elevated to 3-1 in the fifth as Dayron Varona singled home Jaff Decker with two outs.

Pruitt (L, 7-6) worked six innings, permitting nine hits and five runs.

The Bulls, 5-5 on their 11-game road trip, conclude the series and road swing at 1:05 PM ET with Eddie Gamboa making the start.