The Columbus Clippers found themselves behind early Saturday, but rallied with five runs in the seventh inning to grab the lead and go on to beat the Durham Bulls, 9-3, at Huntington Park. The win kept the Clippers five games up in the International League’s Western Division as the playoffs approach.

Coming into Saturday’s contest, both Columbus and Durham had won two games in the series. The Bulls took the lead with two runs in the third inning on a Tristan Peters blast, his 12th of the season. The Clippers countered in the fourth when Juan Brito came on a throwing error by catcher Rob Brantley as Brito stole third.

In the fifth inning, Columbus took a brief lead, scoring two runs to make it 3-2. With two outs, Angel Martínez singled to drive in runners from second and third. The Bulls tied the game in the next half inning when Ronny Simons hit his tenth home run of the season.

That ended the day for Clippers’ starter Doug Nikhazy, who gave up three runs on five hits, all of the runs given up on the Peters and Simons homers. Nikhazy walked two and struck out eight. After that, the Columbus relief corps of Andrew Misiaszek, Andrew Walters, and Nic Enright did not allow any baserunners in their three innings of work.

The Clippers pushed five runs across in the seventh to all but seal the victory. Estevan Florial led off the frame with his sixth long ball of the season. Dom Nuñez doubled to drive in a run. Christian Cairo followed with a single to bring Nuñez home. Martínez then doubled to knock in Cairo. Finally, Gabriel Arias singled to plate Martínez.

Columbus added a run in the eighth when Cairo singled to knock in Nuñez, who had doubled earlier in the inning. Misiaszek (3-1) earned the win. Durham reliever Michael Gomez (3-4) was charged with the loss.

The teams wind up their series Sunday at Huntington Park with a game beginning at 1:05 p.m. Logan Allen (3-2) will take the mound for the Clippers, while Durham will counter with Logan Workman (1-0).