Those who remember Randy Johnson striking a bird with a spring training pitch in 2001 – one of the most amazing baseball plays – recall it being a one-in-a-million shot. Apparently, another 999,999 pitches have passed.

Sunday night in the 11th inning of Durham’s Triple-A International League game at Buffalo, Bulls reliever Jason Childress’ 3-2 pitch struck a sea gull on the way to the plate.

Bisons catcher Einar Diaz scooped up the bird, which lay flapping in front of home plate, and brought it to staff members for first aid.

Unlike the Randy Johnson incident, though, this bird actual recovered and flew away.

The Bisons, who are constantly looking for ways to keep the gulls at bay, may have finally found a solution. The gulls left the area after their comrade got hit.

“It was like they knew,” Bisons entertainment coordinator Matt Lasota said. “It was like they said, oh man, look what they did to him!”