Clippers Win, Need One More For Title

Zach McAllister and two relievers pitched Columbus to a 4-0 win over the Durham Bulls as the Clippers took a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five Governor's Cup. Columbus can clinch the Triple-A International League championship with one more win after sweeping two games at home. The Clippers got 20 hits and rolled to an 18-5 victory in the opener, then won with stellar pitching at Huntington Park.

The Clippers got three solo home runs -- by Cord Phelps in the first inning and consecutive shots by Jared Goedert and Jerad Head in the fourth.

The Clippers stole an insurance run in the fifth. Jose Constanza singled, was bunted to second by Ezequiel Carrera and took third on a wild pitch. After Phelps walked, the runners pulled a double steal, Constanza scoring and Phelps going to second.

McAllister didn't walk a batter over seven sharp innings, striking out five and allowing only six hits. The right-hander had been consistently mediocre since being acquired from the New York Yankees' farm system in mid-August. He was the player to be named in the deal that sent veteran outfielder Austin Kearns from the Cleveland Indians to New York in July.

McAllister went only 1-2 with a 6.88 ERA in three regular-season starts for Columbus after compiling a 8-10 record and 5.09 ERA in 24 starts for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre before the trade.

Zach Putnam and Vinnie Pestano finished the combined eight-hit shutout. Each yielded one hit over one inning. Pestano struck out one and Pestano fanned three.

Right-hander Yohan Pino will start Game 3 for the Clippers tonight in Durham.