Santana's Two Homers Beats Bulls 5-1

[Recap provided by Bulls Neil Solondz.]

(Columbus, OH) Ryan Shealy's ninth inning double helped the Bulls avert a second straight shutout, but Durham dropped a second straight game, falling 5-1 to Columbus.

Durham (23-16), which lost 5-0 the previous day, settled for a split of the four-game series between the top two teams record-wise in the IL, dropping the last two.

Chris Richard and Shealy doubled back-to-back against Jess Todd in the ninth to avert a second straight shutout defeat.

Indians top prospect Carlos Santana accounted for all of the Columbus offense on this Monday night. Santana hit a grand slam in the fifth against Richard De Los Santos (2-2), breaking a scoreless tie. A base hit, walk and hit batter set up Santana, who added a solo shot to right in the seventh for Brian Baker. Santana was 3-for-3 with three homers, four walks and a sac fly the last two games of the series.

Mike Gosling (3-0) went the first 6.1 innings. Until the ninth, Durham had been scoreless for more than 20 innings. Shealy's grand slam in the sixth inning on Saturday were the last runs before his double on Monday.

Durham out-hit Columbus (24-15) for a second straight night, this time, 9-6. Jose Lobaton went 3-for-4 and Elliot Johnson 2-for-4.

The Bulls face Toledo in the second half of an eight-game road trip beginning on Tuesday night at 6:30. Coverage on 620 the Buzz begins at 6:15 with lefty Carlos Hernandez (3-1) on the mound against righty LJ Gagnier (0-1).