Hens close out series against Durham with 8-2 win

The Toledo Mud Hens closed out their four-game series against International League-leading Durham with an 8-2 victory Friday night at Fifth Third Field to avoid the sweep.

Toledo fell behind early, but the deficit didn't last long, as the Hens answered Durham's two-run second with two runs of their own. Danny Dorn began the charge with his 22nd homerun of the season on a shot that just made it over the right field fence. It took just two more at bats for the Hens to even the score, as Ben Guez was brought home by Bryan Holaday.

The score remained knotted at 2-2 until the sixth, when Holaday busted the game open with a bases clearing double to give Toledo a 5-2 advantage. After reaching third on a Kevin Russo single, Argenis Diaz scored Holaday with a perfectly placed suicide squeeze.

Toledo received a quality start from Shawn Hill, who allowed two runs on six hits in the win. Though he has struggled for much of the season, the right-hander has won each of his last two starts while surrendering just three runs in 11 1/3 innings during that span.

Toledo will begin its next series at 7:00 on Saturday against division rival Columbus. LHP Blaine Hardy (4-0, 1.71 ERA) is scheduled to take the mound for the Hens in the first of three games against the Clippers.