Bulls Fall in Rubber Match to Toledo, 5-4

TOLEDO, OH - The Durham Bulls fell to the Toledo Mud Hens 5-4 Thursday afternoon at Fifth Third Field, dropping the rubber match of a three-game set.

Trailing 5-4 entering the bottom of the ninth, Daniel Robertson was hit by a pitch and Dayron Varona doubled to put runners on second and third with two outs. Toledo closer Bruce Rondon got JP Arencibia to fly out to right field though, ending the contest.

The Mud Hens (20-25) plated the game's first runs in the first inning, as Chad Huffman cracked a two-run homer to left field.

In the fourth Durham (19-29) came back to tie the game, as Luke Maile's bases-loaded double scored Nick Franklin and Richie Shaffer. In the bottom of the frame the home side re-took the lead though on an Argenis Diaz RBI single.

In the sixth the back-and-forth battle continued, when Juniel Querecuto's double scored JP Arencibia to tie the game at three. Toledo once again answered however, as Tyler Collins and Diaz each notched RBI singles to put the home side in front 5-3.

Franklin hit a solo homer in the seventh for the Bulls to make it a one-run game, but the visitors could get no closer as they lost their fifth straight series.

Dustin Molleken (1-1) earned the win in relief for Toledo, tossing two innings of one-run ball. Rondon earned his fifth save of the campaign with a scoreless ninth. Blake Snell (2-4) suffered the loss for the Bulls by allowing five runs on four hits and three walks through 5 1/3 frames, before the Durham bullpen tossed 2 2/3 scoreless innings.

The Bulls' road trip continues Friday when they open a three-game series at Columbus. RHP Jaime Schultz (3-2, 3.40) takes the mound for Durham opposite LHP Ross Detwiler (0-2, 5.40) for the Clippers. First pitch is scheduled for 7:15 p.m.