Varona's Walk-Off Slam Lifts Durham over Columbus
September 1, 2016 - International League (IL1)
Durham Bulls News Release
DURHAM, NC - Dayron Varona hit a walk-off grand slam in the bottom of the ninth inning Wednesday night at the DBAP, giving the Durham Bulls a 7-3 win over the Columbus Clippers in the rubber match of a three-game set.
After a pop out led off the bottom of the ninth, JP Arencibia singled for Durham's first baserunner of the frame. Jaff Decker and Richie Shaffer then worked back-to-back walks to load the bases, before Varona crushed a walk-off grand slam over the Snorting Bull for Durham's ninth walk-off victory of 2016.
Columbus (80-59) tied the game in the top of the ninth inning on an RBI double by Jesus Aguilar. Varona's homer gave Durham (61-78) its fourth win of the six-game homestand though, as they stayed 2 1/2 games back of first-place Gwinnett with five games remaining in the regular season.
Casey Gillaspie kick-started the Durham offense in the first inning, launching a two-run home run to right-centerfield after Daniel Robertson earned a walk. The Clippers made it a 2-1 ball game in the fourth on Bradley Zimmer's RBI double, and tied the contest an inning later when Michael Choice's single scored Yandy Diaz.
The Bulls re-took the lead in the bottom of the fifth behind Gillaspie once again, as his one-out single plated Mikie Mahtook who had doubled leading off the inning.
Ryan Garton (4-0) earned the win, despite blowing the save in the ninth inning, while Josh Martin (2-5) took the loss after allowing Varona's grand slam. Austin Pruitt allowed two runs on 10 hits over 5 1/3 innings in the start, before Tyler Sturdevant, Adam Kolarek and Ryne Stanek combined for 2 2/3 scoreless relief innings.
Varona finished the evening going 3-for-5 with four RBI and a double, while Gillaspie also finished 3-for-5 with three RBI. Mahtook chipped in two doubles in the victory, while Arencibia went 2-for-4.
Durham hits the road for its final road trip of the season, as it opens a three-game set against the Gwinnett Braves at 7:05 p.m. on Thursday. Neither the Bulls nor the Braves have announced a starting pitcher for the series opener.
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