Bulls spoil series finale with victory over Hens

In Wednesday afternoon's series finale between Durham and Toledo, the Bulls were able to spoil the Mud Hens' hopes for a sweep. Despite the Hens scoring first, the Bulls were able to take the final game of the three game series 5-3. Durham was home run happy against Toledo starter Mike Belfiore, hitting three solo shots off of him.

Toledo struck right away in the first inning. With one out, Xavier Avery extended his hitting streak to 12 games with a single in the hole between shortstop and third base. Jefry Marte, fresh off of being named the International League's Player of the Month for June, stayed hot by hitting a two out double to right field that put the Hens on top 1-0.

In the second inning, Durham tied the game on a Richie Shaffer home run. The Hens wasted no time in retaking the lead, though. Leading off the bottom half of the inning, Mike Hessman channeled his inner speed demon to hit his first triple of the season. Jordan Lennerton followed with an RBI ground out to give the Mud Hens a 2-1 lead.

The Bulls took over after that though, scoring four unanswered runs to spoil the series finale. Durham scored two runs in the third to take a 3-2 lead, and then, with Belfiore still pitching, Taylor Motter and J.P. Arencibia hit back-to-back home runs to push the lead to 5-2.

The Hens were able to scratch off a run in the bottom of the seventh courtesy of a two out RBI single from Alex Avila, but that was all Toledo could muster in the late innings. The Mud Hens take on the Indianapolis Indians at Fifth Third Field on Thursday at 7 p.m.