The Scarlets came from 19 points down to draw level at Loftus Versfeld, but the Vodacom Bulls ran in four tries in the final quarter to win 54-26 in the United Rugby Championship.
There were 12 tries in searing heat, and the hosts finished much the stronger side.
It was almost a repeat of last week in Cape Town, where the Scarlets also fought back from 19 down to draw level, before losing 52-40 to the Stormers.
Tom Allen debut, and first URC starts for Gabe McDonald and Isaac Murray-Macgregor
Nigel Davies made six changes, handing a debut in the second row to Tom Allen, the 22-year-old summer signing from the Hurricanes.
Centre Gabe McDonald and wing Isaac Murray-Macgregor made their first URC starts, and Corey Domachowski made his Scarlets URC debut at loosehead.
Murray-Macgregor came in on the left wing for Macs Page, who has since been called into the Wales squad.
Right wing Ioan Jones pulled out injured on the day, so Archie Hughes came into the side.
Before kick-off, Davies had warned that his side needed to “manage moments in games that can change momentum”, especially against the Bulls’ “power, physicality” at Loftus.
Rudolph, le Roux and Maart put the Bulls 19-0 up
A home win looked a formality early on. Flanker and man of the match Jeandre Rudolph, veteran Willie le Roux and wing Dylan Maart all crossed to make it 19-0.
Gabe McDonald’s handling then sent hooker John McKee over out wide for his first Scarlets try.
Sam Lousi’s one-handed finish
The forwards showed off their handling too. Wales scrum-half Gareth Davies swapped passes with Fletcher Anderson, who fed Tonga forward Sam Lousi to stretch over one-handed.
That made it 19-12 at half-time.
Gans sin-binned as Archie Hughes and Joe Roberts level it at 26-26
The Scarlets had two tries ruled out by the TMO straight after the restart, and it was replacement Marcell Coetzee who scored next, putting the Bulls back in front.
The hosts then went down to 14 men, when centre Stedman Gans was sin-binned for tripping Scarlets captain Josh Macleod.
The Scarlets made it count. Fly-half Carwyn Leggatt-Jones drifted round the defence and fed Archie Hughes to score on the wing.
A break from full-back Ioan Nicholas then set up centre Joe Roberts, whose try levelled it at 26-26 and secured a bonus point.
It was Roberts’ fourth try in two games, and another nudge for Wales head coach Steve Tandy, who left him out of his November squad.
Marcell Coetzee double as the Bulls take over in the last quarter
That was as good as it got. The Scarlets faded in the heat, and Coetzee went over for his second try.
Sebastian de Klerk, Johan Grobbelaar and Maart, with his second, added more as the Bulls pulled clear.
Scarlets 15th with one win from five, and Connacht next in December
The Scarlets come home with two points from South Africa, but have only one league win from five games and sit 15th.
The Bulls go fifth for now and stay unbeaten at home.
The URC now breaks for the November internationals. The Scarlets are back at Parc y Scarlets against Connacht on Saturday 5 December.
Scarlets team v Vodacom Bulls
Scarlets: 15 Ioan Nicholas; 14 Archie Hughes, 13 Joe Roberts, 12 Gabe McDonald, 11 Isaac Murray-Macgregor; 10 Carwyn Leggatt-Jones, 9 Gareth Davies; 1 Corey Domachowski, 2 John McKee, 3 Harri O’Connor, 4 Tom Allen, 5 Alex Groves, 6 Sam Lousi, 7 Josh Macleod (capt), 8 Fletcher Anderson.
Replacements: 16 Isaac Young, 17 Sam O’Connor, 18 Gabe Hawley, 19 Harvey Cuckson, 20 Dan Davis, 21 Dane Blacker, 22 Gareth Anscombe, 23 Jac Davies.
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