Bulls Fall 6-2 at Toledo

[Via e-mail from Bull's Neil Solondz]

(Toledo, OH) Alvin Colina's two-out single in the sixth got Durham within a run, but it was as close as the Bulls would get on Wednesday afternoon in a 5-2 loss at Toledo.

After winning four straight, Durham (23-18) has dropped four in a row, scoring just six runs in the process.

Colina's single past first scored Chris Richard, who had doubled. It was Durham's only hit with runners in scoring position in 12 tries. In the past four games, Durham is 4-for-37 with runners in scoring position, and has scored just six total runs.

Toledo took a 1-0 lead in the first inning on a Jeff Frazier two-out double off Jeremy Hellickson (6-2), a run set up by a leadoff walk. After Durham tied the game in the third inning on a bases-loaded walk to Justin Ruggiano, Toledo re-took the lead in the bottom of the frame on Scott Sizemore's two-run double to right center. Hellickson threw 84 pitches in four innings, as the leadoff batter reached in each frame. Toledo had the leadoff hitter on in six of eight innings for a second straight day.

After the Bulls pulled within 3-2 in the sixth, Toledo (23-18) tacked on a run in the bottom of the frame on a two-out passed ball, and then added another two-out run in the seventh for the final margin.

Colina was the only Bull with a multi-hit game, going 2-for-3 with a walk. Manager Charlie Montoyo was ejected in the third inning. With runners at first and second and none out, Desmond Jennings bunted through a pitch, then was called out on batter's interference when Robinzon Diaz tried to pick Colina off second. Montoyo questioned the call, and was ejected for the first time this season.

Durham will look to bounce back on Thursday night as LHP Heath Phillips (2-2) takes the hill against RHP Max Scherzer, who's just down from Detroit. Coverage on 620 the Buzz begins at 6:15, with first pitch at 6:30.