Bulls Walk Off With 6-5 Win Over Stripers
Bulls starting pitcher Shane Baz struck out eight over five innings and first baseman Dalton Kelly and designated hitter Mike Ford hit back-to-back home runs, while third baseman Kevin Padlo’s game-winning RBI single in the tenth inning gave Durham a 6-5 extra-inning walk-off victory over the Gwinnett Stripers on Saturday
Bulls starting pitcher Shane Baz struck out eight over five innings and first baseman Dalton Kelly and designated hitter Mike Ford hit back-to-back home runs, while third baseman Kevin Padlo’s game-winning RBI single in the tenth inning gave Durham a 6-5 extra-inning walk-off victory over the Gwinnett Stripers on Saturday evening at Durham Bulls Athletic Park.
After Gwinnett plated a run in the top of the tenth, Bulls RF Nathan Lukes lofted a sacrifice fly to left to even the game at 5-5. CF Josh Lowe would then draw a two-out walk and steal second to set the scene for Padlo, who crushed a 1-2 pitch down the left field line to plate Lowe and cue the celebration.
The Stripers struck first with a solo homer in the opening frame. Durham would counter right back with a pair of big flies of their own as Kelly and Ford crushed back-to-back home runs for a 2-1 advantage. Lowe later extended the margin to three with a two-run single in the fifth, however Gwinnett bashed a three-run shot in the sixth to even the contest and force the extra frame.
Lowe (2-4, R, 2 RBI, BB), Kelly (2-4, R, HR, RBI) and 2B Vidal Brujan (2-4, BB) all collected two hits each in the victory. Kelly and Ford’s back-to-back home runs marked the first time the Bulls have accomplished that feat since August 1, 2019.
Baz (5.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 8 K) fanned eight batters over five frames, though he did not factor in the final decisions. Durham reliever Joey Krehbiel (1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 K) earned his first victory of the year, while Gwinnett righty Jacob Webb (1.2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 K) suffered the defeat.
The two teams are slated to finish off their six-game series at the DBAP on Sunay night, with first pitch scheduled for 6:05pm ET. RHP Joe Ryan (3-3, 3.73) is anticipated to get the nod for the Bulls, while RHP Jasseel De La Cruz (0-2, 6.16) is expected to start for the Stripers. Standing Room Only tickets remain for that game. Tickets for all other remaining Bulls home games are also available at durhambulls.com.