IL Playoffs Game 3: Bulls 3, Clippers 2 – Durham Stays Alive with a Walkoff Win

Bulls 3, Clippers 2 – (box)
Series: COL leads, 2-1

Unfortunately, the celebration has to wait at least one more day. The Clippers rallied to tie the game late, but couldn’t hold off Durham in the ninth as the Bulls managed to stay alive by taking Game 3.

Both starting pitchers were solid, and Yohan Pino turned in another brilliant start for Columbus, working 8.0 innings and allowing just two runs—one earned (ERA: 1.13)—but it ended up being the one unearned run that was ultimately the difference.

The game was scoreless through four and a half, when Durham finally got a lead in the series. A 1-out double by Angel Chavez followed by a single by Rashad Eldridge got the Bulls on the board. The rally could have ended there, except for that Ezequiel Carrera made a two-base throwing error to allow Eldridge to move the third. A sacrifice fly followed, and it was 2-0 Bulls. It might not have seemed like much, but as the rest of the game played out that run was very important.

The Clippers answered back in the top of the sixth with another home run from Wes Hodges, who has had a solid playoffs for the Boys in Blue. Pino kept his team in the game, and it was Hodges who came through again in the eighth with his team still down a run. Cord Phelps ripped a 1-out double, and Hodges followed with a single to tie the game at 2. Looking back at the Durham fifth, that extra run was huge.

That said, the Clippers couldn’t extend the game in the ninth. Josh Judy came on in the bottom of the ninth to relieve Pino, and did not fare well. He walked leadoff man Elliot Johnson, and things got worse from there. Justin Ruggiano singled to right, allowing Johnson to move to third. With nobody out, the Clippers had no choice but to intentionally walk Chris Richard and play for a double play at the plate. But, it was a sacrifice fly from Leslie Anderson that ended the game, scoring Johnson.

The Clippers have another chance tonight to take home the Governor’s Cup. I would hope they can do it tonight, because if this goes to a fifth game in Durham, you have to think the momentum will have shifted and the pressure will be totally on the Clippers. So, let’s get it done tonight! Paolo Espino (3-3, 5.62 ERA regular season; 1-0, 2.57 ERA playoffs) takes the bump tonight for Columbus, facing off against Durham’s Paul Phillips (1-0, 1.69 ERA regular season; 1-0, 0.00 ERA playoffs). First pitch is 7:05 PM.

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Photo Credit: Carl Kline/MiLB.com