Clippers split series with Bulls

In front of crowd of 11, 544 on a Sugardale Dime-a-Dog night, Columbus won a back-and-forth contest with Durham 5-4 at Huntington Park.

Durham wasted no time getting on the scoreboard when Vince Belnome belted a solo homer into the Wendy's Hamburger Balcony to give the Bulls a 1-0 lead. An inning later, Mike Fontenot cranked a solo bomb onto Nationwide Boulevard to double the Durham advantage.

The Clippers put together a solid frame offensively in the bottom of the second. Matt Carson got Columbus on the board with an RBI single to left. Two batters later, Roberto Perez plated another run with an RBI groundout to tie the game at 2-2.

The Bulls would regain the lead in the top of the fourth on two run bloop single to right by Fontenot. That edge would not last long for Durham as Juan Diaz bashed a two run homer off the scoreboard in right center to knot the game up at 4-4.

In the bottom of the seventh, Columbus capitalized big time on a Durham error. With two outs and Ezequiel Carrera standing on first, Bulls lefty Frank De Los Santos threw over to first to keep Carrera close. The throw went by first and rattled around in the Clippers bullpen down the right field line. Using his game-changing speed, Carrera kicked it into high gear, scoring all the way from first to give the Clippers a 5-4 lead.

That would go on to be the final score as the Clippers earned a series split with Durham. Daisuke Matsuzaka (W, 3-6) got the win for Columbus. Mike Montgomery (L, 5-5) took the loss for the Bulls. Clippers lefty Nick Hagadone (S, 2) nailed down the win in the ninth.

The Clippers welcome in Buffalo for four games at Huntington Park starting on Tuesday night. The Clippers will give the ball to righty Carlos Carrasco (3-0, 2.97). The Bisons will counter with veteran right-hander Justin Germano (6-7, 5.29). First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM.