WRAL Sports Fan

WRALSportsFan

Bulls Drop 5-4 Decision in Road Opener

Apr 14, 2007

TOLEDO, Ohio — Ryan Raburn's two-run homer in the sixth was the difference in Toledo's 5-4 win over the Bulls, Durham's first road game of the season.

The line-drive homer over the left field wall off Andy Sonnanstine held up, as Durham only once got a runner to third in the last three innings against a stingy Toledo bullpen.

The long ball was the first lead for Toledo since the opening inning, when Mike Hessman's two-run single gave the Mud Hens a 2-1 advantage.

The Bulls answered with back-to-back homers off Dennis Tankersley in the second from Justin Ruggiano and Raul Casanova. It was the first time Durham has gone back-to-back this year.

Jorge Cantu's fifth inning single stretched Durham's lead to 4-2 before Dane Sardinha's sac fly in the bottom of the inning cut the lead in half and set the stage for Raburn.

Sonnanstine, who retired 14 of 15 before Timo Perez singled and Raburn homered, took the loss, falling to 1-1. Seth McClung followed with two scoreless innings. Ruggiano keyed a nine-hit attack with the homer and an infield single.

The Bulls look to bounce back on Saturday at 7 p.m. as RHP Mitch Tablot takes the hill against RHP Yorman Bazardo. Coverage on 620 the Bull begins at 6:30.