Late Clipper Homers Sink Bulls 4-3
Phelps and Canzler connected one after the other in the fifth inning Thursday night, but in the last of the eighth in the series finale, they each took out reliever Brandon Gomes (L, 5-4) with one out as the Bulls (59-69) settled for a four-game split and a 2-6 Ohio road trip.
Durham rallied from two runs down to take a 3-2 advantage in the seventh on a single to right by Brooks Conrad, scoring Chris Gimenez from second base. Gimenez and Stephen Vogt had walked with two outs to set up Conrad's liner.
In the sixth, Tim Beckham (HR, 3), who was slated to have the night off, homered to left against starter Matt Packer to slice the deficit to 2-1. Vogt doubled to right-center with one out, a drive that the Bulls argued went over the wall. After the debate, the call stood. Conrad then reached on an infield hit before Leslie Anderson drove a double to right-center to tie the game. After Packer was relieved, Nevin Ashley was hit on the arm to fill the bases. Reid Brignac struck out looking, then was ejected by plate umpire Brad Myers, and Cole Figueroa fanned to strand the bases loaded.
Columbus took a 2-0 lead against Bulls starter Chris Archer on a two-run homer by Juan Diaz in the fifth.
Anderson and Conrad let the Bulls 10-hit attack with two hits apiece. Archer worked 5 2/3 innings, permitting five hits and two walks, fanning six.
Will Rhymes was forced out of the game in the fourth after fouling a ball against his right foot. Rhymes finished his at-bat, but after grounding out, was troubled running down the first base line and replaced by Beckham.
The Bulls return home to open a nine-game homestand Saturday night at 7:05 PM ET against the Gwinnett Braves. Jim Paduch (5-9, 5.63) starts for the Bulls agains Randall Delgado (3-2, 4.94). Gates open at 6:00 PM with the game presented by Triangle Orthopaedic Associates and fireworks following the game.