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Bulls Win Governors’ Cup Championship
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The Durham Bulls celebrate their Governors’ Championship win. |
For the third time in eight years, the Durham Bulls are champions of the International League. Durham completed a three-game sweep of the Scranton-Wilkes Barre Yankees with a 3-2 win in 12 innings on Thursday night, September 17, 2009. The Bulls are 9-0 in their three victorious Governors’ Cup Finals appearances.
John Jaso smacked a double off the right field wall scoring Elliot Johnson all the way from first base in the top of the 12th inning to break a 2-2 deadlock. Winston Abreu came in to pitch the bottom of the 12th but left after walking Juan Miranda as he ruptured a blister on his pitching hand.
Julio DePaula came in and got Cody Ransom to fly out before walking John Rodriguez to put runners on first and second with one out. Reegie Corona lofted a fly ball down the left field line that undoubtedly would have scored the tying run, but Justin Ruggiano made a diving catch for the second out. Ruggiano attempted to double up Miranda at second unsuccessfully, then Olmedo threw wild to first trying to double up Rodriguez allowing both runners to advance.
With runners on second and third and two out, Doug Bernier grounded out to DePaula as he ran it all the way to first base for the final putout giving the Bulls the victory.
Durham trailed 2-0 until the eighth inning when Ruggiano walked and Johnson singled to start the inning. Two outs and a double steal later, Desmond Jennings singled to left scoring both runners to tie the game.
Calvin Medlock picked up the win for the Bulls pitching a scoreless 10th and 11th innings allowing one hit and one walk while striking out four. Julio DePaula picked up his first save of the post-season.
The Bulls will travel to Oklahoma to play either the Memphis Redbirds or Sacramento River Cats for the 2009 Triple-A National Championship in Oklahoma City, OK on Tuesday night.
Thanks to DBBC’s Matt DeMargel for this capcom story & photo.
