Bulls Lose Lead Late in 4-2 Loss to RailRiders

DURHAM, N.C. - The Durham Bulls appeared to be on their way to another win and a series win Sunday evening, with the home team sporting a 2-0 lead entering the seventh inning. The Bulls couldn't hold on to their late advantage however, as the visiting Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders rallied for four runs over the final three frames to hand Durham a 4-2 loss at the DBAP.
The Bulls entered the seventh holding on to a 2-0 lead thanks to RBI singles form Taylor Featherston and Jake Hager in the fifth that had supported a shutout performance by starting pitcher Brent Honeywell Jr. . The Durham pen unfortunately was not able to follow Honeywell's lead however, as the RailRiders tied the game with a pair of runs in the seventh before scoring twice in the top of the ninth to hand the Bulls the 4-2 loss.
The two teams breezed through the first four innings, with Honeywell and Scranton/WB starter Nester Cortes combining to strike out 11 batters and allow just three combined baserunners to start the game. The Bulls were finally able to get the bats going in the fifth, with back-to-back two-out, RBI singles by Featherston and Hager putting the home team on top 2-0.
That advantage held until the seventh, when reliever Hunter Wood entered the game and allowed a leadoff single before recording a pair of outs. Wood was then replaced by Adam Kolarek , who allowed a single followed by a two-out, two-RBI double by Ji-Man Choi to tie the game at 2-2.
Two innings later Billy McKinney walked with one out in the top of the ninth before Choi struck again, this time with a two-run home run to left off of Durham reliever Chaz Roe to give the road team the 4-2 score they could win by.
Roe (0-3) took the loss for the Bulls after allowing two runs on two hits, one walk, and two strikeouts over two innings pitched, while Scranton/WB reliever Ben Heller (5-3) earned the win after striking out five over two perfect innings out of the pen. Honeywell received a no-decision for his efforts, despite throwing six scoreless innings on two hits, no walks, and five strikeouts.
Featherston paced the Durham lineup with a 2-3 game including an RBI and a run scored, while Hager finished 1-3 with an RBI.
The Bulls (73-47) have an off day Monday before taking to the road for a six-game trip to both Syracuse and Scranton/WB. First pitch on Tuesday is scheduled for 6:35 pm, with RHP Yonny Chirinos (11-3, 2.80) on the mound for Durham opposite Syracuse RHP Jaron Long (3-4, 3.84).
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