Durham Bulls fall in rubber match of series to Toledo, 5-4
The Durham Bulls fell to the Toledo Mud Hens 5-4 Thursday afternoon at Fifth Third Field.
In Durham’s half 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 stopped the threat there, though, getting JP Arencibia to fly out to end the contest.
The Mud Hens (20-25) plated runs in the first inning on Chad Huffman’s two-run homer.
In the fourth Durham (19-29) came back to tie the score, as Luke Maile’s bases-loaded double scored Nick Franklin and Richie Shaffer. Toledo moved back ahead in the bottom half of the inning on an Argenis Diaz RBI single.
In the sixth, Juniel Querecuto’s double scored Arencibia to get the Bulls even again. Toledo answered, though, as Tyler Collins and Diaz notched RBI singles to put the Mud Hens in front 5-3.
Franklin hit a solo homer in the seventh for the Bulls to make it a one-run game, but they could get no closer as they lost their fifth straight series.
Dustin Molleken (1-1) earned the win in relief, pitching 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 by allowing five runs on four hits and three walks through 5 1/3 innings.
Durham’s road trip will continue Friday when it will open a three-game series at Columbus. Right-hander Jaime Schultz (3-2, 3.40 ERA) is scheduled to take the mound for Durham against left-hander Ross Detwiler (0-2, 5.40). First pitch is scheduled for 7:15 p.m.
Thursday’s box score
Durham | ab | r | h | bi |
Decker, CF | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Robertson, SS | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Franklin, 2B | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
Shaffer, RF | 5 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
Varona, LF | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Arencibia, DH | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Maile, C | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
Querecuto, 3B | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Leonard, 1B | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Totals | 38 | 4 | 11 | 4 |
Toledo | ab | r | h | bi |
Machado, SS | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Gose, CF | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Huffman, 1B | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
McGehee, 3B | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Hicks, C | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Collins, LF | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Diaz, 2B | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
Valdespin, DH | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Bernard, RF | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Totals | 30 | 5 | 6 | 5 |
Durham | 000 | 201 | 100 | — | 4 | 11 | 0 |
Toledo | 200 | 102 | 00X | — | 5 | 6 | 0 |
LOB–Durham 11; Toledo 4. 2B–Decker; Maile; Querecuto; Varona. HR—Franklin (4); Huffman (6).
Durham IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | |
Snell (L, 2-4) | 5 1/3 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 7 |
Farquhar | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Sappington | 2/3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Geltz | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Toledo IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | |
Crouse | 4 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
Molleken (W, 1-1) | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
Nesbitt | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Parnell | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Rondon (S,5) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
This story was originally published May 26, 2016 at 11:30 PM with the headline "Durham Bulls fall in rubber match of series to Toledo, 5-4."