Clippers Retake First Place

For the past few days, the talk has been about the Clippers holding off Buffalo to earn the wild card spot in the International League playoffs. Now they'll have a chance to hold off Louisville for the West Division title.

Columbus got a great start from Paolo Espino and timely hits from Cord Phelps and Jared Goedert, winning their third straight against the Indianapolis Indians, 5-2. Coupled with Louisville's loss to Toledo, the Clippers regained the division lead by a half-a-game.

Espino struck out seven in seven innings. Two of the three hits he allowed came in Indy's two-run third, on Brandon Moss' double. Espino set the final 13 batters he faced down in order. Jess Todd and Vinnie Pestano shut the door in the final innings, with Pestano picking up his 14th save .

Phelps doubled in the fourth and later scored on Goedert's team-leading 20th home run of the season, tying the game at 2. Phelps then broke the tie in the fifth, doubling home Josh Rodriguez with a big two-out hit.

Matt McBride, who replaced Phelps as a pinch-hitter, added some insurance with an RBI-double in the top of the ninth, scoring the newly-minted IL Postseason All-Star, Jose Constanza. Wes Hodges then singled home McBride, giving Pestano a comfortable cushion.

It wasn't all good news for the Clippers, however, as ace Carlos Carrasco, who was scheduled to pitch on Wednesday, will instead take his talents to Cleveland (with Major League rosters set to expand).

As a result, the Clippers will play Indy for the final time on Wednesday, with newcomer Corey Kluber on the mound. Kluber, a right-hander who was acquired by the Cleveland organization from San Diego, as part of the Jake Westbrook trade, will be promoted from Akron to take on righty Joe Martinez (1-2, 6.17).