Durham Crushes Toledo for Second Straight Win

DURHAM, NC - The Durham Bulls cranked out 18 hits en route to a 9-1 victory over the Toledo Mud Hens Thursday night, winning their second straight contest.

The Mud Hens (51-74) plated the game's first run in the top of the second inning, but Durham came storming back in the bottom of the frame by plating five runs. Joey Rickard tied the game up with an RBI double off the Blue Monster, and Mikie Mahtook followed with a two-run double of his own to take a two-run lead. Taylor Motter then doubled to deep right-centerfield to score Mahtook, and Richie Shaffer singled to put runners on the corners before JP Arencibia drove home Motter with a single to center for a 5-1 lead.

That score held until the fourth, when the Bulls (61-66) added to their lead on a sacrifice fly by Shaffer, which scored Mahtook who had singled to lead off the inning. Then in the sixth Durham blew the game open, scoring three more times when JP Arencibia cracked a three-run homer over the leftfield foul pole for a 9-1 lead.

Righty Bradin Hagens (2-5) picked up the victory for the Bulls, allowing one run on four hits over five innings, striking out six. Robert Zarate, Jhan Mariñez, Kirby Yates and Parker Markel all tossed a scoreless inning of relief for Durham, including a 1-2-3 frame for Markel in his Triple-A debut. The rehabbing Kyle Lobstein (0-2) suffered the loss, surrendering six runs on 12 hits in 3 2/3 innings.

A night after a 17-run, 20-hit outing, Mahtook led the 18-hit attack for the Bulls, finishing 4-for-5 with two RBI and three runs scored. Motter went 3-for-4 with a pair of runs, while Ryan Brett went 3-for-4 as eight of Durham's nine starters finished with a hit.

The Bulls go for the sweep of the three-game series Friday when they send LHP Scott Diamond (10-5, 3.56) to the hill against RHP Luis Cessa (1-1, 6.61) for the Mud Hens. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.