Clippers Beat Durham 8-3

The Clippers are now just one win away from the 2011 Governors' Cup Championship Series after winning 8-3 in Durham Thursday night. Just like Game 1, the Clippers would strike first offensively.

Tim Fedroff led off the game with a walk. After a Travis Buck strikeout, Fedroff was able to advance to second on a wild pitch from Christopher Archer. Jared Goedert struck out looking for the second out of the inning. That left it up to Columbus first baseman Beau Mills who would stake his team to an early lead with this hit. Although the way Mills got the hit was bizarre to say the least, the Clippers were able to grab a 1-0 advantage with the Mills ground-rule double. The next batter, Chad Huffman, continued to swing a hot bat in this series as he lengthened the Clippers lead with his second home run of the series, helping Columbus get off to a great start with a 3-0 lead after only half an inning of play.

Having already been spotted a 3 run cushion when he took to the mound, Columbus right-hander Mitch Talbot ran into some trouble in his first inning of work. Tim Beckham singled to begin the frame. After a Stephen Vogt fly out to center field, Matt Carson bashed a double off of the right field wall, putting runners in scoring position with only one out. That would bring 2010 IL MVP Dan Johnson to the plate. Johnson would help Durham cut into the Bulls' 3-0 deficit with a two-run single, making it a one run affair, 3-2. Russ Canzler, the 2011 IL MVP, would single to keep the Bulls offensive onslaught going in the bottom of the first. Leslie Anderson grounded to first base for the second out of the frame, allowing both runners to move into scoring position with two outs. They would stay on second and third as Talbot was able to escape further damage by striking out Daniel Mayora for the final out of the frame.

The Clippers would go right back to the bat rack in top of the second. Argenis Reyes singled up the middle to begin the inning. Tim Fedroff followed that up with a single of his own to right field. Travis Buck then came to the plate and he helped the Clippers get another run on the board with an RBI single that gave the Clippers a 4-2 lead.

Talbot would have another rough inning in the bottom of the second. The first two batters of the inning, Ray Olmedo and Nevin Ashley, reached on singles. Needing a ground ball double play in the worst way, Talbot got just that off the bat of Tim Beckham for the first two outs. With the double play, Talbot still needed one more out to get out of the inning. Stephen Vogt sent a deep fly ball to right field, but luckily for Columbus, Travis Buck was right there to make the play on a spectacular inning-ending diving catch that preserved the two-run lead for the Clippers.

After allowing Beau Mills and Chad Huffman to reach on singles to begin the top of the third, Christopher Archer found his groove on the mound, striking out five of the next nine batters he faced. Talbot would also settle in on the hill for Columbus, retiring nine out of the next eleven batters he faced after the second inning.

The Clippers would knock Archer out of the ballgame in the top of the sixth. Nick Johnson walked to begin the frame. After Juan Diaz and Luke Carlin struck out swinging, the Bulls made a pitching change. Durham brought in Mike Ekstrom to face Argenis Reyes. Reyes greeted Ekstrom with a single right back up the middle, keeping the inning alive for the Clippers. It would bring Tim Fedroff to the plate and Fedroff did his part to drive in another run for Columbus with an RBI single, augmenting the Clippers advantage to 5-2.

Meanwhile, Talbot continued to cruise on the mound as he struck out the side in the bottom of the sixth. He would have get more run support from his Columbus teammates in the top half of the 7th. A two-out double by Chad Huffman followed by a Nick Johnson walk set the stage for Clippers shortstop Juan Diaz, who broke open the game with a two-run RBI double, ballooning the Clippers lead to 7-2. The two out magic continued for Columbus as Luke Carlin came to bat and drove home Diaz with an RBI single, making it 8-2 in favor of the boys from Columbus.

The Bulls tried to disrupt the momentum of Talbot in the bottom of the seventh. After Talbot retired Ray Olmedo on a groundout to second, Nevin Ashley reached safely when Juan Diaz booted a ground ball for the first error of the contest. Tim Beckham then walked, putting runners on 1st and 2nd with one out. After a visit from Columbus pitching coach Ruben Niebla, Talbot got more help from his defense who turned an inning ending 6-4-3 double play, thwarting another potential big inning for the Bulls once again.

Talbot was pulled in the eighth for Columbus reliever Jason Rice. The inning did not start off well for Rice as he allowed the first two batters, Matt Carson and Dan Johnson, to reach on singles. Johnson's single into the left-centerfield gap allowed Carson to advance to third, putting runners on 1st and 3rd with nobody out. Like his predecessor Talbot, Rice induced a groundball that his defense was able to turn for another double play. Carson scored on the play to make it 8-3 Columbus, but that was all Durham got as Rice got Leslie Anderson to ground out to shortstop to retire the side.

With a five run lead going into the bottom of the ninth, Tyler Sturdevant came on to put the finishes touches on the impending Clippers victory. He gave up a lead-off double to Daniel Mayora. Sturdevant got Ray Olmedo to ground out to third for the first out of the inning. The next batter, Nevin Ashley, reached on an infield hit. Sturdevant then struck out Tim Beckham swinging for the second out of the inning. Not wanting to take any chances, Columbus manager Mike Sarbaugh made a pitching change, bringing in Corey Burns to get the final out of the game.

Burns walked Vogt to load the bases with two outs, but it would be Burns getting the last laugh as he retired Matt Carson on a fielder's choice groundout to shortstop, slamming the door on the 8-3 victory and giving Columbus a 2 games to none lead in this best of five series.

Mitch Talbot (1-0) got the win, going 7 innings, allowing two runs on seven hits while striking out five and walking two. Despite striking out eleven batters, Chris Archer (0-1) was hit with the loss.

The Clippers will look to sweep the Bulls and move on to the Governor's Cup final when they come home to Huntington Park for Game 3 of the Governor's Cup Semifinal round. Right-hander Joe Martinez (8-9, 4.04 ERA in 2011) will get the start for Columbus. He will oppose Bulls left-hander Alexander Torres (9-7, 3.08 ERA in 2011) who will try his best to keep Durham alive in the best-of-five series. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 pm.