The Richmond Braves' 5-1 loss to the Durham Bulls at The Diamond yesterday fulfilled a story line that's been too common in June.

Richmond couldn't create opportunities, validating its No. 12 ranking in team offense among 14 teams in the International League. The Braves couldn't rally against Durham, a team that has won 75 percent of its games when it leads first. They couldn't change their losing fortunes, dropping 11 in 13 games and 17 for 25 this month - an effort that has caused Richmond (39-45) to go from South Division leader to a team that stands six games behind Durham.

"Every team has a bad season," Braves second baseman Diory Hernandez said. "We'll change. We can change."

The Braves tried yesterday but to no avail. Durham took care of business early, thanks to a three-run surge in the fourth inning to make it 4-0. Bulls catcher Josh Johnson ripped a line drive that tipped off the glove of third baseman Enrique Cruz. The play loaded the bases and marked Cruz's fourth error this season.

Durham center fielder Jon Weber followed with a double that brought second baseman Reid Brignac, third baseman Joel Guzman and Johnson home. Weber finished with two doubles and four RBI.

"Making an error with two outs and giving them an extra out - good offensive teams take advantage of that," Richmond manager Dave Brundage said.

Durham pitcher Jeremy Cummings (7-2) limited the Braves' chances by mixing a curve and change-up in varying locations in the strike zone. He also picked off two runners - catcher Clint Sammons in the second inning and center fielder Josh Anderson in the third.

Braves right fielder Mark Jurich belted a 2-0 fastball over the right-field fence, making it 4-1 in the fourth inning. Richmond's dugout was expecting more chances to fill the scorebook, but Weber's sacrifice fly in the sixth and five hitless innings from Cummings and Calvin Medlock brought the Braves back to reality.

"When they got another [run] in the [sixth] inning, that kind of killed any momentum we had," Richmond left fielder Carl Loadenthal said. "Right now, our offense is struggling, and we're not putting together any big innings. Any one big hit gives us an excuse to get people into the game more and get stuff going. Unfortunately, that's all we got."

TOO MANY PITCHES: Chris Resop made his first start after 228 consecutive relief appearances in his six-season pro career. The next step consists of Resop limiting his pitches to ensure more innings.

Resop struck out four and held the Bulls scoreless but walked two and threw 54 pitches in two innings. The high pitch count forced Brundage to rely on his bullpen early.

"Too many pitches," Brundage said of Resop. "Not all his doing. When you get a power pitcher, you'll get foul balls and a lot of deep counts."

ON TAP: The Braves and Bulls conclude their two-game series today at 7 p.m. at The Diamond. Right-hander Jerome Gamble (0-2, 7.47) will take the mound for Richmond. Right-hander Ben Hendrickson (6-4, 3.42) will start for Durham.

DURHAM	RICHMOND
	a	r	h	bi			a	r	h	bi
Weber rf	4	1	2	4		Andrsn cf	4	0	2	0
Zobrist ss	4	0	0	0		Ldnthl lf	3	0	0	0
Ruggno cf	4	0	1	1		Thrmn dh	4	0	1	0
Gimnz dh	4	0	1	0		Canzrs 1b	3	0	0	0
Richard 1b	3	0	0	0		Hernndz 2b	4	0	0	0
Guzman 3b	4	2	2	0		Jurich rf	4	1	1	1
Brignac 2b	4	1	2	0		Smmns c	4	0	1	0
Perez lf	4	1	2	0		Cruz 3b	2	0	1	0
Johnson c	3	1	0	0		Arnold ss	3	0	0	0
Totals	33	5	9	5		Totals	31	1	6	1

Durham ------------------------- 001 301 000 - 5 9 0
Richmond ------------------------- 000 100 000 - 1 6 1

E - Cruz (4). DP - Richmond 1. LOB - Durham 7, Richmond 6. 2B - Weber 2 (14), Anderson (10). HR - Jurich (1). S - Perez. SF - Weber.

Durham	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO
Cummings W 7-2	7	6	1	1	2	6
Medlock	1	0	0	0	1	2
Thayer	1	0	0	0	0	0
Richmond
Resop	2	1	0	0	2	4
Rouwenhorst L 0-2	4	7	5	2	2	4
Nunez	1	0	0	0	0	2
Julio	1	1	0	0	0	0
Ridgway	1	0	0	0	0	1

Time - 2:39. A - 3,961 paid.