From staff reports

SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Shawn Riggans' third hit, a two-run double in the ninth, gave Durham the lead for good in Tuesday's 9-6 win over Syracuse, a result that helped the Bulls' playoff chances.

With 13 games left in the regular season, Durham (73-58) moved 3.5 games ahead of the Chiefs in the wild card race by taking three of four in the series. The Bulls are now two games behind Gwinnett in the South Division, with four games left head-to-head between the two teams.

After Durham squandered leads of 5-0 and 6-3, Riggans ripped a 1-1 pitch to left center to score Akinori Iwamura and Fernando Perez to make it 8-6. Michel Hernandez followed with a sac fly for insurance.

For the second straight night, Winston Abreu finished up, earning his 13th save. Dale Thayer (2-5) got the final three outs in the eighth for the win.

Durham collected 12 hits, three by Riggans, and two by Hernandez, Iwamura and Desmond Jennings. Matt Joyce added a first-inning grand slam, his 14th homer.

Durham now heads to Norfolk (five GB in the wild card race) for three games beginning tonight.

Bulls 9, Chiefs 6

DUR ab r h bi SYR ab r h bi

Jennings cf 5 1 2 1 Hopper lf-cf 4 1 2 0

Brignac ss 5 0 0 0 Orr 3b-lf 4 1 2 1

Iwamura 2b 5 1 2 0 Ward 1b 2 1 0 1

Dillon 1b 3 1 0 0 Eldred dh 4 0 0 0

Weber rf 2 1 1 0 Casto rf 4 0 0 0

Perez lf 0 1 0 0 Bynum 2b 4 1 1 3

Joyce lf-rf 4 2 1 4 Maxwell cf 3 0 0 0

Riggans dh 5 2 3 2 Yepez 3b 0 0 0 0

Hernandez c 4 0 2 1 Desmond ss 4 1 1 0

Olmedo 3b 2 0 1 0 Molina c 3 1 1 1

Totals 35 9 12 8 Totals 32 6 7 6

Durham 400 100 013--9

Syracuse 000 000 330--6

DP--Durham 1, Syracuse 1. LOB--Durham 8, Syracuse 2. 2B--Iwamura, Riggans, Molina. 3B--Olmedo, Desmond. HR--Joyce (14), Bynum (18). S--Olmedo. SF--Hernandez, Ward. SB--Jennings (10), Perez (2).

Durham IP H R ER BB SO

Hellickson 7 3 3 3 1 10

Childers 0 4 3 3 0 0

Thayer (W, 2-5) 1 0 0 0 0 0

Abreu (S, 13) 1 0 0 0 1 0

Syracuse

Ramirez 6 2/3 8 5 5 4 2

Zinicola 1 1/3 2 1 0 0 1

Segovia (L, 1-2) 1 2 3 3 2 0

Childers pitched to 4 in the 8th.

PB--Molina. Ejections: Syracuse Chiefs Manager Tim Foli ejected by 1B umpire Al Porter (8th); Syracuse Chiefs center fielder Justin Maxwell ejected by 1B umpire Al Porter (8th). Umpires: HP: Fran Burke. 1B: Al Porter. 2B: . 3B: John Smorol.

T--3:02. A--6,513.

ree on a two-out three-run homer, while striking out 10, walking just one.

Durham now heads to Norfolk (five GB in the wild card race) for three games beginning on Wednesday. Jeff Bennett starts against David Pauley. Coverage on 99.9 the Fan begins at 6:55, with first pitch at 7:15.