[Via email from the Durham Bulls Director of Media Relations Matt DeMargel.]Reid Brignac scored on a wild play at the plate to cap a four-run rally in the bottom of the ninth inning as the Durham Bulls knocked off the Indianapolis Indians, 7-6 on Tuesday night at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park.
The ninth inning rally was started off with back-to-back singles from Elliot Johnson and John Jaso. Desmond Jenning followed that two batters later with a bunt single scoring Johnson from third, making the score 7-4. Brignac then singled to left, scoring Ray Olmedo, who was brought in to run for Jaso. Matt Joyce followed that up with a seeing-eye single through the whole at second base scoring Jennings to tie the game at six apiece.
The game winning play came with Justin Ruggiano at-bat and runners on first and second with one out. Ruggiano grounded to shortstop Argenis Diaz who then tossed it to second baseman Brian Bixler forcing Joyce out at second. Bixler then attempted to turn a game-ending double play but his throw went wide of the bag causing first baseman Jeff Clement to stumble and fall on the catch. Brignac, coming from second base, never stopped running on the play and beat the throw home from Clement by inches giving the Bulls the exciting win.
The Bulls fell behind early after starting pitcher Jeremy Hellickson was shelled for four runs in the first inning and two runs in the fifth. He was pulled after four and two thirds innings with six earned runs on six hits, two walks and seven strikeouts.
The Bulls got on the board in the second with a solo shot from Chris Richard deposited over the wall in right making the score 4-1. The long ball was Richards’ 19th of the year, tops on the team.
Durham added two more in the sixth and seventh innings to cut Indianapolis’ lead to 6-3. Joyce ended the day going 3-4 with 2 RBI, a walk and a strikeout. Rhyne Hughes also got a single, extending his team season high hitting streak to 12 games.
With the win the Bulls now split their series with Indianapolis at two games a piece. They will take Wednesday off and start a four-game series Thursday against the Syracuse Chiefs with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
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