For the third straight day and the fourth time in six games against Indianapolis this season, the matchup between the Clippers (4-5) and Indians (4-4) was decided by one run.
Clippers second baseman Ronny Rodriguez’s triple down the right field line scoring Giovanny Urshela from second base gave Columbus a 8-7 lead in the top of the eleventh inning, giving Columbus back-to-back wins for the first time this season in front of 6,358 fans on Sunday afternoon at Victory Field.
Clippers first baseman Jesus Aguilar smashed a home run, his third of the season, to right-center field in the top of the first inning and Indians designated hitter Jason Rogers tied it in the bottom of the inning with an infield single scoring Gift Ngoepe from third base.
After three scoreless innings, a tennis match ensued as the Clippers took a 2-1 lead in the top of the fifth inning, Indianapolis scored three in the bottom of the inning to take a 4-2 lead.
Columbus chipped away and took a 5-4 lead heading into the bottom of the seventh.
Max Moroff then launched a 2-run bomb, his first of the year, over the wall in right field, giving the Indians a momentary lead before Clippers shortstop Erik Gonzalez scored catcher Guillermo Quiroz on a single to right field to tie the game at six in the top of the eighth.
Gonzalez would tack on another RBI in the top of the tenth inning, as his sacrifice fly scoring Michael Martinez from third base gave Columbus a 7-6 lead but that would be short-lived, however, as Dan Gamache scored Adam Frazier to tie the game yet again in the bottom half of the inning.
Ronny Rodriguez’s RBI triple scoring Urshela proved to be the difference, as southpaw reliever Nick Maronde would close the door in the bottom of the eleventh aided by a game ending double play by Jesus Aguilar, giving Columbus the win.
Both starters were taken out of the game before the fifth inning. Clippers lefty TJ House threw four innings, giving up four earned runs on seven hits, walking three batters and striking out four. His counterpart in Steven Brault tossed four and 2/3 innings, giving up two earned runs on five hits, walking a batter and fanning two.
Clippers right-handed reliever Jeff Johnson (1-0) was given the win while fellow righty reliever Trey Haley (0-1) was hit with the loss.
The Clippers will now head to Louisville to begin a three game series with the Bats tomorrow night. Game time at Louisville Slugger Field is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
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