Clippers lose tough one to Bulls 5-4
Tom Theodore, Columbus Wired (Photos By Revonda Gentry and Tom Theodore)

After falling behind 3-0 in the early innings, the Clippers made a strong comeback in the fourth inning scoring four runs off of Bulls starting pitcher Jeff Niemann.  Unfortunately the Clippers were unable to hold on to that lead.

Clippers reliever Mike Bascik came in to the game in the sixth inning and it looked like it would be lights out for the Bulls as he pitched a perfect inning.  Then the seventh inning arrived and the Bulls brought their bats with them.  Solo homeruns by Joel Guzman and Jeff Bannon made the score 5-4 and the Durham bullpen was able to shutdown the Clippers for the second straight night.

The Clippers had several chances to come back,  but left two runners on base in the seventh and one on in the eighth.  In the ninth inning, Bulls' pitcher Dale Thayer gave up a leadoff single to Ray Olmedo but was helped out by catcher Alex Jamieson who gunned down Olmedo at second as he was trying to steal.  Thayer walked two batters in the inning but was able to get the Clippers Bret Boone to fly out to center field for the final out.  Thayer picked up his second save in as many nights.

On a positive note,  the Clippers were defensively sound tonight committing no errors.  Garrett Guzman and Ryan Langerhans made great plays but it was Clippers third baseman Pete Orr that really stole the show with his glove work making five great plays that kept the game close.

The Clippers resume action again tonight against the Bulls at 7:05 at Cooper Stadium.