Offense Sputters as Bulls Fall to Clippers

COLUMBUS, OH - The Durham Bulls fell to the Columbus Clippers 2-1 Sunday afternoon at Huntington Park, dropping the rubber match of a three-game series and finishing their six-game road trip 2-4.

The Clippers (28-21) struck first, as former Bull Joey Butler drove home Jesus Aguilar on a groundout in the second inning. In the fifth the home side extended its lead when Guillermo Quiroz knocked a solo homer to left field.

The Bulls (20-31) plated a run in the sixth frame, as Daniel Robertson singled and Nick Franklin followed with a double to put runners on second and third. Richie Shaffer then grounded out, scoring Robertson and cutting the deficit to one run.

Durham couldn't advance a runner to second base the rest of the way though, as it fell 11 games under .500 for the first time since the 2012 season.

TJ House (4-2) picked up the win for the Clippers by tossing six innings and allowing one run, while Ben Heller earned his first save of the year with a scoreless ninth. Southpaw Adam Wilk (1-6) lost his fourth straight start, despite allowing just two runs on four hits over six innings while striking out eight.

The Bulls return to the DBAP on Monday as they kick off a four-game series against the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders. LHP Justin Marks (2-4, 3.76) goes for Durham opposite RHP Brady Lail (2-1, 3.32) for Scranton/WB.