Bulls Hoist Governors' Cup as IL Champions

PAWTUCKET, RI - With a 7-0 shutout victory over the Pawtucket Red Sox Saturday night, the Durham Bulls claimed the fourth International League Championship in the team's remarkable history. The Governors' Cup returns to the Bull City after a three season hiatus, and will join the 2002, 2003, and 2009 titles on the Bulls' illustrious Triple-A Championship ledger.

After a 14-inning marathon in Game Three, where it took over five hours for the Bulls to break a scoreless stalemate, Durham wasted no time in getting on the board in Game Four. Tim Beckham drew a 2-out walk off of knuckleballer Charlie Haeger in the top of the first and was followed by a base hit by Vince Belnome. Jason Bourgeois then singled home Beckham to give the Bulls a lead they would never relinquish.

The Bulls offense, anemic for most of the 2013 postseason, got another lift in the second when Kevin Kiermaier blasted his second career Triple-A homer. His two-run shot was followed in the third by an RBI double off the bat of Shelley Duncan, who plated Brandon Guyer after the Bulls right fielder tripled. All four of Durham's early runs came with two outs, a stark reversal of fortunes from Friday night where the Bulls stranded 16 runners.

While the offense awakened, the game belonged to Bulls starter Merrill Kelly (W, 2-0). Kelly was simply dominant Saturday night, tossing six scoreless innings and allowing only two hits while striking out seven PawSox. With the win, he laid claim to the decision in both series clinching victories this postseason.

Durham would go on to break the game open in the sixth, scoring three more runs in the frame, including another RBI for Kiermaier who went 2-for-5 with two runs scored and three driven in on the night.

The newly crowned International League Champions will now travel to Allentown, PA to await the winner of the Pacific Coast League title. The two Champions will square off in the one-game, winner-take-all Gildan Triple-A National Championship Game on Tuesday, September 17. The game will be televised nationally on NBC Sports Network.

Bulls game story brought to you by Strayer University, Bringing Home the Bulls in September.