Mud Hens tame Bulls

5/11/2010
BLADE STAFF AND NEWS SERVICES

DURHAM, N.C. – For the first time in 15 seasons, the Durham Bulls played a game at Durham Athletic Park last night.

And the site for the movie Bull Durham proved to be a fun place for the Mud Hens to play.

Toledo spoiled the Bulls' return to their old home ballpark by scoring five first-inning runs and claiming a 6-2 win.

The Mud Hens sent eight batters to the plate in the first as Max Leon and Danny Worth led off with singles that put runners on first and third, and Jeff Frazier reached on an error by Bulls second baseman Joe Dillon that allowed Leon to score.

One out later Brent Dlugach drove a pitch from Durham starter Heath Phillips over the fence in right for a three-run homer, Dlugach's second home run this season.

Clete Thomas capped the rally with a home run to left, his fourth of the season.

Thomas's homers have all come in Toledo's last seven games.

Meanwhile Toledo starter Phil Dumatrait allowed only one Durham hitter to reach base in the first four innings, and that baserunner came on a throwing error by Leon.

The Bulls' Dan Johnson broke up the no-hit bid by hammering the first pitch of the fifth well over the fence in right for his league-leading 10th home run this season.

The Hens added a run in the sixth when Thomas was hit by a pitch, stole second, then came home on a double by Ben Guez, who had four hits on the night.

But Durham got a two-out RBI single by Hank Blalock in the bottom of the sixth.

The two teams continue their four-game series with a game tonight at Durham Bulls Athletic Park starting at 7:05. The Hens return to Fifth Third Field Friday to face the Indianapolis at 7:05 p.m.