Clippers' Offense Sinks Bulls in Opener

COLUMBUS, OH - The South Division champion Durham Bulls fell 9-4 to the West Division champion Columbus Clippers in Game One of the 2014 Governors' Cup Playoffs at Huntington Park Wednesday night.

Columbus got on the board early in the opener of the best-of-Five series, striking for a pair of runs when the Clippers' second hitter of the game, the rehabbing David Murphy, hit a two-run homer over the right field fence. In the second inning the home side struck again, this time on a solo dinger off the bat of Matt Carson for a 3-0 lead.

In the third Durham closed the gap, as Wilson Betemit led off with a double and came around to score a batter later on an RBI single from Ali Solis. The Clippers opened up a three-run lead again in the bottom of the fourth though, as Carson scored on a fielder's choice.

In the sixth inning the Bulls pulled within one when Jeremy Moore cracked a two-run homer, scoring Mikie Mahtook who had singled. That would be the closest the visitors would get however, as the Clippers struck for a trio of runs in the bottom of the frame behind four hits and a walk.

In the seventh the Clippers continued to roll, opening their lead to 9-3 on James Ramsey's two-run homer. The Bulls closed the scoring in the top of the ninth when Vince Belnome scored on a 4-6-3 double play.

Right-hander Kyle Davies (1-0) earned the win, allowing three runs on six hits over six innings while striking out nine. Righty Alex Colome (0-1) suffered the loss for Durham, surrendering four runs on five hits over five innings of work. The nine earned runs allowed by the Bulls pitching staff was more than it allowed in seven International League playoff games a season ago (eight), when it captured its fourth Governors' Cup crown.

Game Two pits Durham LHP Enny Romero (5-11, 4.50) against Columbus RHP Tyler Cloyd (10-8, 3.89). First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. Thursday from Huntington Park.