The game-winner certainly came off the right bat.
International League MVP Russ Canzler followed a two-out intentional walk to Dan Johnson with an RBI single over the head of second baseman Ruben Gotay, giving the Durham Bulls a 4-3 win over the Gwinnett Braves on Tuesday night and a split of their two-game series.
The win in the Bulls’ regular-season home finale before a crowd of 8,787 at Durham Bulls Athletic Park dropped the Bulls’ “magic number” to three to clinch the IL’s South Division title over the second-place Braves.
And it wasn’t over until right fielder Matt Carson’s diving catch of a sinking liner off the bat of Matt Young resulted in a game-ending double play.
“Now maybe we can relax a little bit tomorrow,” Bulls manager Charlie Montoyo said. “That was the biggest game of the year so far, and you know it would end on something like that. He either missed it and they score, or we win the game. They would have scored two. We’ve seen it before. The beautiful thing was that the MVP got the hit. He could have gotten four strikeouts and gotten the trophy. But when you’re having a great year you’re having a great year.”
Dane De La Rosa (6-5) was the winning pitcher with Rob Delaney picking up his 12th save. Anthony Varvaro (2-8) took the loss.
The result came on the night Justin Ruggiano cracked the 300 RBI barrier for his Bulls career, becoming the club’s all-time leader.
Earlier in the day, right-hander Dirk Hayhurst (4-2, 4.12) was given his unconditional release.
“That was just an awesome moment,” Canzler said of the fateful hit. “The way I was swinging it the first three at-bats (three strikeouts) I don’t really blame them for putting me on. Dan had had a couple of hits. I didn’t get offended, but I knew I had a chance to redeem myself and fortunately I came through. I was just happy to have another opportunity. This win was big, especially with the way Gwinnett has been playing.”
Gwinnett took the lead in the first on a Mauro Gomez double, but the Bulls tied it in the bottom of the frame as Ruggiano hit a two-out double and scored on Dan Johnson’s single to right.
The Braves made it 2-1 in the second on Gotay’s RBI single.
But the Bulls took the lead in the fourth as Tim Beckham hit a one-out single, taking third on Brandon Guyer’s double before both scored – with one RBI – when Ruggiano reached on former Bull Wes Helms’ error at first.
Gwinnett tied the score in the seventh as Stefan Gartrell drew a leadoff walk and scored on Wilkin Castillo’s bases-loaded grounder to second.
If the fly ball to Carson had gotten past him, the Braves would certainly have scored one run and perhaps two on the play.
“I didn’t really do my job at the plate tonight,” Carson said. “So any way I could help my team win was a bonus. I’m glad it worked out in our favor. I’m glad we gave the home crowd something to feel good and cheer about. We haven’t quite made the playoffs yet, but hopefully they’ll come back and support us.”
The Bulls will play two games at Charlotte beginning Wednesday night before concluding the regular season with four games at Norfolk. In the opener of the Charlotte set on Wednesday night, Andy Sonnanstine (3-5, 4.75) will take on Dylan Axelrod (6-1, 2.45).
Durham has a tiny chance to clinch Wednesday night, since the Braves will complete a suspended game and play a regularly scheduled game at Norfolk.
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