Bulls, Clippers Split Doubleheader

DURHAM, NC - The Durham Bulls and Columbus Clippers split a day-night doubleheader Saturday at the DBAP, with the home side winning Game 1 11-5, and the visitors winning Game 2 4-0.
Durham fell behind quickly in Game 1, surrendering a trio of runs in the top of the first. The home side came right back in the bottom of the frame though, scoring a run on a Kean Wong double, Mike Brosseau double and throwing error to tie the contest at three.
The teams exchanged the next two runs to make the score 4-4 heading to the bottom of the third, before Durham erupted for a five-run frame. Jake Smolinski, Dashenko Ricardo, Cronenworth and Wong all tallied RBI in the stanza, putting the Bulls ahead 9-4.
Columbus got a run back in the fifth, but Cronenworth added on a solo homer in the bottom of the fifth and Smolinski tacked on an RBI single in the sixth to close the scoring at 11-5.
Casey Sadler (1-0) earned the win with 3.0 innings of one-run relief, while Evan Mitchell (0-2) took the loss by allowing nine runs (eight earned) in 2.2 frames.
In Game Two the Clippers again took an early lead, this time three batters into the game when Brandon Barnes launched a solo home run, and Trayce Thompson did the same an inning later for a 2-0 lead. The two-run difference held until the sixth, when Ryan Flaherty doubled to left, scoring both Barnes and Thompson for a 4-0 advantage.
Wong doubled for the Bulls in the first inning of the contest, marking Durham's lone hit in the nightcap.
Jared Robinson (1-0) earned the win by tossing four scoreless frames in relief. Austin Pruitt (2-2) took the loss by allowing by allowing all four runs in 5.2 innings, despite striking out seven.
The Bulls and Clippers wrap their four-game set Sunday at the DBAP at 5:05 p.m. Durham has yet to name a starter, and RHP Cody Anderson (0-2, 4.35) is scheduled to make the start for Columbus.