DBAP/ DURHAM—Yesterday I was wondering whether the Durham Bulls had guts. Let me direct you to the top of the ninth inning of the Bulls’ exciting 4-3 win over the Gwinnett Braves last night, a huge step toward getting Durham into the post-season.
There was one out and the score was 4-3, Durham. The out was secured by left fielder Russ Canzler, who was named league MVP earlier in the day, drove in the go-ahead run in the bottom of the eighth with a clutch two-out single—after striking out in his three previous at-bats—and had just raced to the retaining wall in foul territory and caught Wilkin Castillo’s foul fly ball. Not a great play, by any means, but a good one, especially for a guy who takes flak for his fielding.
The next batter was the Braves’ other Wilkin, the one named Ramirez. He goes around singing to himself, “With the thoughts I’d be thilkin’ / I could be another Wilkin.” Ramirez singled to left field off of Rob Delaney.
I am psychic. I’ve said it before and will have cause to say it again. This is not a boast. We are all psychic, but our minds are over-cluttered with stimuli and so we can’t hear the messages that the future sends us. What I like about watching baseball games is that their deep but thrumming quiet, and their extraordinary, head-clearing equilibrium, push out all of the mental obstructions and allow you to see the future.
I thought to myself: Someone is going to make a diving catch to decide this game.
Follow us over to Bull City Summer to read the rest of this story about the Bulls’ biggest win of the season.
