Yarbrough, Bauers Lead Bulls Past Tides 5-2

DURHAM, NC - The Durham Bulls used a four-run sixth inning and a strong start from Ryan Yarbrough to down the Norfolk Tides 5-2 Friday night in front of 8,556 fans at Durham Bulls Athletic Park.
Yarbrough was in control throughout the entire night, as the southpaw tied a career-high with eight innings pitched while limiting Norfolk to just two runs on five hits, two walks, and nine strikeouts. He was supported by a big night from Jake Bauers , who slammed his seventh home run and drove in three runs to pace the Bulls' bats.
Durham jumped out to a quick lead with a run in the bottom of the first, as Johnny Field doubled down the left field line and eventually came in on an RBI sacrifice fly by Bauers for a 1-0 Bulls lead. The score remained the same all the way until the sixth, when the Tides got their only runs against Yarbrough on a two-run homer off the bat of Craig Gentry that put the road team ahead 2-1.
The Bulls promptly responded in the bottom of the sixth with a long ball of their own, as Bauers crushed a two-run shot to right-center field to put Durham back on top 3-2. Following singles by Patrick Leonard and Mike Marjama , Curt Casali broke the frame open with a two-RBI single to give the Bulls the 5-2 lead they would win by.
Bauers finished the game 1-2 with a home run, three RBI, a run scored, and a walk, while Casali went 1-4 with two RBI.
Yarbrough (5-3) earned the win for his dominant performance, while reliever Adam Kolarek (2) picked up the save with a scoreless ninth. Norfolk starter Jayson Aquino (1-6) took the loss after giving up five runs on six hits, two walks, and eight strikeouts over 5.1 innings pitched.
The Bulls (38-22) and Tides (26-35) will match up again in the third game of their four-game set Saturday night, with LHP Blake Snell (3-0, 2.39) taking on RHP Gabriel Ynoa (1-4, 6.82) at 6:35 pm.
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