Durham pounded out nine runs on 16 hits and the bullpen held on in a 9-5 win over the Toledo Mud Hens in Game 2 of the Governors' Cup Playoffs on Thursday night at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park. The Bulls now have 2-0 lead in the best of five series and can advance to the Governors' Cup finals with a win on Friday night in Toledo.

The Mud Hens scored a run in the first inning with an RBI-single from Erick Almonte, but the Bulls responded with five unanswered runs in the first and second innings. Richard hit into an RBI-ground out and Evan Longoria hit an RBI-double in the first, while Jason Pridie, Ruggiano, and Richard hit RBI-singles in the second.

The Mud Hens added a run in the third inning with another RBI-single from Almonte to make the score 5-2, but the Bulls responded again. Elliot Johnson hit a solo home run in the fourth inning and then Richard tallied his second RBI of the night with a single to left field and Raul Casanova scored two with a single to center field in the sixth inning to extend the Bulls lead to 9-2.

Almonte drove in two more runs and then scored on a sacrifice fly from David Espinosa in the seventh, but RHP Brian Shackelford relieved RHP Dale Thayer and ended the Mud Hens' rally.

Both starting pitchers worked five innings, with RHP Jeff Niemann (1-0) allowing two runs on five hits and four walks while striking out seven, and RHP Jordan Tata allowing six runs on nine hits and two walks while striking out six. Shackelford and RHP Shawn Camp retired the side in the eighth and ninth innings, respectively, to secure the win.

The Bulls will travel to Toledo for Game 3 at 7pm with Neil Solondz calling the action on 620 The Bull. For tickets, go to www.durhambulls.com or call the box office at (919) 956-BULL.

Thanks to DBBC's Matt DeMargel for this capcom story & photo.