Tomlin Shuts Down Bulls in Series Opener

DURHAM, NC - The first-place Durham Bulls dropped the first game of a four-game series with the Columbus Clippers, 3-0 Thursday night at the DBAP.

The Bulls (18-10) struggled to mount any offense against Clippers' starter Josh Tomlin (2-1), who faced just two batters over the minimum in a complete game to earn the win while the Bulls went scoreless for the first time this season.

Hak-Ju Lee got two of Durham's three hits on an infield single and a double to left. Wilson Betemit's double in the fifth was the only other Durham baserunner. Tomlin struck out 10 and threw just 19 balls in his 88 pitches.

Durham starter Enny Romero (2-4) struggled from the outset, allowing nine hits and a walk in 5 2/3 innings to suffer his third straight loss. He allowed at least one baserunner in each inning, including the leadoff batter three times.

For Columbus (12-13), Tomlin got all the help he needed in the second when Carlos Moncrief led off with a triple and scored on a Ryan Rohlinger sacrifice fly. Columbus added two more in the fourth as Rohlinger and Matt Carson led off with singles, and Audy Ciriaco and Justin Sellers singled them in.

Tomlin retired the final 12 Bulls batters he faced en route to his fourth career complete game and second shutout. He last went the distance in 2010 and threw his only other shutout in 2008.

The Bulls and Clippers continue the series at 7:05 p.m. Friday. LHP Mike Montgomery (3-0, 2.81) makes his first start since throwing 8 1/3 innings of a combined no-hitter, while RHP Travis Banwart (1-0, 4.15) starts for Columbus.