Syracuse lost before the largest crowd in the stadium'sfive-year-old history.
Nearly 12,400 fans turned out in anticipation of seeing DeionSanders - the sixth-largest crowd in Syracuse franchise history.
Sanders was expected to be in the lineup Thursday night, to playleft field and bat leadoff, but he had personal commitments thatkept him away. He is expected to be in Syracuse in time forFriday's game.
The SkyChiefs, still on a hot-streak - winning their last 15 outof 18 games - jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the first inning.
Shortstop Felipe Lopez hit a home run to right center field tolead off the bottom half of the first inning. It was Lopez' eighthhomer of the season.
But Durham came right back and scored two runs in the secondinning, then took the lead for good with a single run in the fourthinning.
Left fielder Bobby Smith led off the inning with a solo shot,his 12th of the year. Durham broke the game open in the eighthinning, scoring four runs.
As Smith hit his second home run of the game, and 13th of theyear - a two-run shot - Syracuse scored twice, both in the eighthand ninth innings, but came up on a short end.
For Durham, now 38-41, Brian Rose raised his record to 2-0. Rosepitched six innings, striking out four and giving up five hits andtwo runs, both earned.
Brandon Lyon took the loss for Syracuse (40-39), falling to 2-3for the season. Lyon pitched 6 2/3 innings, striking out five whilegiving up five hits and three runs, all earned.
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