Bulls win fifth straight, 9-6 at Columbus

Bulls

Bulls win fifth straight, 9-6 at Columbus

Jul 1, 2009

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(Columbus, OH) Matt Joyce went 4-for-5 with one of four Bulls homers, as Durham won its fifth straight, 9-6 over Columbus on Tuesday.

Joyce, who homered for the third straight game and now has nine on the year, helped the Bulls improve to 45-34 after a 6-2 road trip through Ohio.

It was Joyce's first hit, a double to right-center in the fourth, that keyed a five-run rally to break a 1-1 tie. Justin Ruggiano was hit by a pitch, and Rhyne Hughes followed with a three-run homer to center field for a 4-1 lead. Later in the frame Chris Nowak hit a two-run homer to left off Kirk Sarloos (3-10). The Bulls ended up with 17 homers on an eight-game road trip.

Durham extended the lead to 8-1 behind Carlos Hernandez (5-4), who ended up allowing just two runs in six innings.

Down 9-2 in the eighth, Columbus did rally for three two-runs, and added one in the ninth before Joe Bateman induced a double-play ball to end the contest.

In addition to Joyce, Nowak and Hughes, Jon Weber also homered, as Durham collected 14 hits.

Durham comes home with an off day on Wednesday, a game ahead of Norfolk in the South Division. The Bulls will host Charlotte on Thursday at 7:05. The Knights also have won five straight. Coverage on 99.9 the Fan ESPN Radio begins at 6:55. Andy Sonnanstine starts for Durham, and tickets are available at www.durhambulls.com.