Archer Fans 6, Bulls Fall 8-5

Bulls right fielder Josh Lowe smashed a two-run home run and Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Chris Archer yielded one hit and struck out six over four and two-thirds innings, however Jumbo Shrimp second baseman Eddy Alvarez homered and drove in four runs in Jacksonville’s 8-5 win over Durham on Tuesday evening at Durham Bulls Athletic Park.

Both Archer and Jumbo Shrimp starter Daniel Castano held their respective adversaries hitless until Jacksonville struck for three in the fourth courtesy of Alvarez’s longball that just cleared the Blue Monster wall in left field to make it 3-0. After the Bulls got a run back in the fifth via 2B Esteban Quiroz’s solo shot to right, both teams traded a pair of tallies, in the sixth and seventh frames, which included Lowe’s two-run blast to left in the sixth. Jacksonville would later tack on an insurance run in the top of the ninth to make it 8-5. Durham then brought the tying run to the plate in the ninth, however were unable to erase the deficit.

Bulls LF Miles Mastrobuoni (2-3, R, 3B, BB) was the lone batter from the home side to post a multi-hit effort. Lowe’s big fly was his 18th of the year, matching his previous single-season career-high set during the 2019 campaign with Double-A Montgomery.

Archer (4.2 IP, H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 6 K) fanned a season-high six batters with the Bulls as part of his Major League Rehab Assignment, giving up a lone hit and two walks, suffering the defeat. Castano (5.0 IP, 3 H, R, ER, 0 BB, K), meanwhile, earned his second victory while reliever Andrew Bellatti (1.1 IP, 2 BB, 3 K) notched his fourth save.

The two teams are set to continue their six-game series on Wednesday evening, with first pitch slated for 6:35pm. RHP Tommy Romero (1-2, 9.00) is anticipated to get the nod for Durham, with RHP Nick Neidert (6-1, 2.06) expected to toe the rubber for the Jumbo Shrimp. Tickets for that game, as well as all remaining Bulls home games are available and can be purchased at DurhamBulls.com.