Durham Bulls routed 18-5 in first game of finals

NEWS RELEASE - (Columbus, OH) Justin Ruggiano's grand slam in the eighth was about the only bright spot in an 18-5 loss on Tuesday night to Columbus in game one of the Governors' Cup Finals.

Clippers starter David Huff retired his first 12 hitters, and the best hitting the team in the league scored five runs in the first inning off Durham's Richard De Los Santos (0-2 in the post-season).

De Los Santos was ejected in the third inning after hitting Wes Hodges with a pitch. Hodges had homered in the five-run first off De Los Santos.

Darin Downs did throw two scoreless innings, and Durham got on the board in the fifth on a Columbus throwing error, but the Clippers then put the game away with a seven-run fifth, sending 12 hitters to the plate.

Columbus eventually scored 12 unanswered runs over three innings to take a 17-1 lead before Ruggiano hit a grand slam in the eighth inning, his first homer of the post-season.

Columbus hit four homers, and collected 20 hits, as each starter had at least two hits. It was the most runs allowed by the Bulls this season, and the most lopsided loss since a 20-2 defeat against Scranton in the last game of the 2008 Governors' Cup Finals.

Durham will try to answer in game two on Wednesday at 6:35 with RHP Aneury Rodriguez takes the mound against Zach McAllister in a matchup of righties.