The Columbus Clippers (12-13) beat the Durham Bulls (18-10) 3-0 in the first game of a four-game set in Durham. Clippers starter Josh Tomlin (2-1, 2.06 ERA) stole the show with a quality start and a wonderful performance for Columbus.
Durham went into the game with an IL-best 18 wins, but Tomlin was the star in Durham Thursday night. Tomlin got the win going the distance allowing no runs on three hits without a walk and struck out ten batters. Tomlin was efficient only needing 89 pitches to down the Bulls. Enny Romero (2-4, 4.50 ERA) took the loss lasting five and two-thirds innings allowing all three of Columbus runs on nine hits and one walk with five strikeouts.
The Clippers wouldn’t need much offense with Tomlin’s pitching, but struck with their first in the second inning. Carlos Moncrief led off the inning with a triple to right and scored on a Ryan Rohlinger sacrifice fly. The Clippers would add a pair of runs in the third inning with RBI singles from Audy Ciriaco and Justin Sellers.
It was a team effort for Columbus offensively as eight of the nine starters had at least one hit. The complete game shutout for Tomlin now has him at a scoreless streak of 20 innings.
Game two of four will be a 7:05 first pitch Friday with Travis Banwart (1-0, 4.15 ERA) for Columbus facing Mike Montgomery (3-0, 2.81 ERA) for Durham.
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