Herald-Sun correspondent
DURHAM -- The Durham Bulls and the Columbus Clippers entered Tuesday night's game as the top two hitting teams in the International League.
Perhaps it was the 91-minute rain delay that kicked back the starting time and held down the crowd to a modest 3,861, or perhaps it was just good pitching.
Whatever the reason, it took the Bulls (57-39) six innings to find their batting strokes on their way to a 7-0 victory at Durham Bulls Athletic Park.
The Bulls (57-39) had their chances earlier but couldn't get the big hit. Jose Lobaton came up with the bases loaded and one out in the fourth but grounded into a double play. An inning later, Alvin Colina flied out to center with J.J. Furmaniak on third, and Furmaniak was thrown out at the plate.
Columbus (58-39) had no better luck against Richard De Los Santos (8-5), who pitched a dominant six innings. The veteran right-hander allowed three hits and picked off runners at first base in the fifth and sixth innings.
De Los Santos said he took advantage of Columbus' aggressiveness.
"It was a close game and they were looking to run," De Los Santos said. "I take pride in my move."
De Los Santos took the mound the day after the Bulls staff walked a dozen Clippers.
"That put a lot of pressure on me to have a big game," he said. "Getting ahead and making quality pitches" made it work.
Bulls manager Charlie Montoyo missed most of the action. He was ejected in the fourth inning after Columbus' Jared Goedert was called safe on a steal of second base. Assistant Dave Myers took over for Montoyo.
The Bulls broke on top in the sixth, rocking reliever Jeremy Sowers (1-6). One-out doubles by Elliott Johnson and Justin Ruggiano scored the game's first run.
Dan Johnson singled Ruggiano to third, and Chris Richard plated a run with a single. Jose Lobaton singled in Johnson, while J.J. Furmaniak scored Richard with a squeeze bunt. Angel Chavez singled, but Lobaton was thrown out at the plate.
Durham added some insurance in the eighth after loading the bases with three singles. Angel Chavez drove in a run with a grounder to second, and Colina scored two more with a single.
RJ Swindle worked a scoreless seventh and eighth innings, and Winston Abreu closed out the win in the ninth. The two struck out the last five Clippers.
After walking 12 batters Monday, the Bulls didn't walk a batter last night, though Des Los Santos did hit two Clippers.
Columbus starter Carlos Carrasco left with one out in the fourth with muscle tightness and dehydration.
Durham had 14 hits, including two each for Richard, Lobaton, Desmond Jennings, Elliot Johnson and Dan Johnson.
NOTES -- Jennings stole his 24th and 25th bases, while Elliot Johnson swiped his 23rd. Durham leads the league with 107. ... Charlotte's loss to Louisville drops them eight games behind Durham in the IL South. Durham and Columbus play the third game of their four-game series tonight at 7:05. Virgil Vasquez (4-1) will go against Justin Germano (2-2).
