Brujan, Durham Bulls Downs Rochester on Wednesday

ROCHESTER, N.Y. – Bulls right fielder Vidal Brujan bashed three hits, including a two-run home run, and third baseman Curtis Mead reached base in all five plate appearances, tallying three knocks, as Durham scored seven unanswered runs between the seventh and eighth innings to spur a 9-3 victory over the Rochester Red Wings on Wednesday evening at Innovative Field.

After the Red Wings grabbed an early advantage with a two-run first, the Bulls would even the contest in the third courtesy of Brujan’s two-run blast. Rochester, though, would go back ahead at 3-2 in the last of the third, with that score remaining until the seventh, when Durham would erupt for seven runs over the next two frames. Durham would plate a trio of tallies in the seventh thanks to Basabe’s go-ahead three-bagger and DH Tristan Gray’s RBI single to right to make it a 5-3 Bulls lead. They would then add four more scores in the eighth thanks in part to a two-run single by DH Jonathan Aranda and Mead’s RBI triple.

Brujan (3-4, 3 R, 2 2B, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 1 BB) recorded three hits, all going for extra bases including his longball, matched by Mead (3-3, 2 R, 1 3B, 1 RBI, 2 BB) with his three knocks while reaching base five times to continue his hot-hitting stretch. Since coming off the Injured List on June 30, Mead has posted a .460 batting average (30-50), recording at least one hit in 11 of his 12 contests in that span.

Durham righty Ryan Thompson (2.2 IP, 2 H, 1 BB, 1 SO) earned the victory, combining with fellow relievers Trevor Brigden (2.0 IP, 1 H) and Josh Roberson for 5.2 scoreless innings of support. Rochester righty Joel Peguero (0.2 IP, 4 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 3 BB, 1 SO), meanwhile, suffered the defeat.

The two teams are scheduled to face off again on Thursday afternoon, with the first pitch scheduled for 11:05 am. RHP Evan McKendry is slated to get the nod for the Bulls and is anticipated to be opposed by Red Wings RHP Jose Urena.