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Bulls

Bulls blow 9th inning lead, fall 7-6

Jun 20, 2012

Rochester, N.Y. — Wilkin Ramirez smacked a game-winning, two-run homer in the last of the ninth to lift the Rochester Red Wings to a 7-6 victory over the Durham Bulls on Wednesday night at Frontier Field.

After the Bulls (32-42) had scored twice in the top of the ninth to grab a 6-5 lead on a heroic homer by Chris Gimenez and tie-breaking single by pinch-hitter Shawn O'Malley, Bulls closer Brandon Gomes (L, 4-1) could not put the Red Wings away (33-39). More Info     More Bulls Stories

Gomes, who has been invincible this season for the Bulls with a 0.39 ERA, six saves and four wins, permitted a double to start the ninth to Tsuyoshi Nishioka, and then after a sacrifice, Gomes left an 0-2 pitch to Ramirez up in the zone. Ramirez drilled it against a flagpole in left field, ruining the Bulls' endeavor at a three-game road winning streak.

Durham came from behind three different times in the game, overcoming 1-0, 4-2 and 5-4 deficits to either tie or go ahead.

Cole Figueroa led a 15-hit attack, going 4-4, while Henry Wrigley was 3-4. The Bulls have amassed 45 hits in three games against the Rochester pitching staff, and remain 10 games behind first-place Charlotte in the South.

Shane Dyer worked six innings, scattering 11 hits and yielding four runs.

The Bulls road trip ends Thursday afternoon at 1:05 PM ET with Matt Torra (6-6, 4.33) starting against Matt Maloney (0-3, 8.06).