Robertson, Bulls Walk-Off Over Mud Hens
DURHAM, NC - Daniel Robertson delivered a walk-off single in the bottom of the 14th inning to give the Durham Bulls a 5-4 win over the Toledo Mud Hens Tuesday night at the DBAP, completing an improbable win after Durham trailed by three runs with two outs in the ninth inning.
Jaff Decker led off the bottom of the 14th frame with a bunt single, and advanced to second on a sac bunt by Hank Conger. After an intentional walk to Jake Hager, Robertson slashed a single inside the first base bag, scoring Decker and giving Durham (47-58) its second straight win.
The Bulls struggled to get to extras though, as the team trailed 4-1 entering the bottom of the ninth. With Durham trailing by three and down to its final out, Richie Shaffer worked a walk to put two runners aboard and bring the tying run to the plate. Decker then lifted a fly ball to right-center field that barely cleared the wall for a game-tying home run to force extra innings.
Parker Markel (3-3) earned the win for Durham, tossing two innings of scoreless relief, while Chad Bell (7-4) took the loss for the visitors, surrendering the winning run in the 14th frame.
After four scoreless innings to open the contest, Durham struck for the game's first run in the bottom of the fifth. Decker led off the frame with a walk, and after a soft groundout advanced him to second base, he came around to score on an RBI single by Hager.
Trailing by a run in the top of the seventh, Toledo's JaCoby Jones lifted a two-run, opposite-field homer to right to put the Mud Hens (46-58) in front 2-1. In the ninth the visitors added two insurance runs on RBI knocks by Argenis Diaz and the rehabbing JD Martinez to make it a three-run lead.
Decker led the way for Durham with a 3-for-5 night, scoring three times and driving in three. Nick Franklin added a 3-for-6 evening, as the pair combined for six of Durham's 10 hits.
The Bulls and Med Hens close their series Wednesday when RHP Jaime Schultz (5-4, 3.43) takes the hill for Durham against RHP Warwick Saupold (3-1, 3.20) for Toledo. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. at the DBAP.
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