Behind a game-winning RBI sacrifice fly by catcher Omir Santos, the Clippers walked off with an 8-7 victory over the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs at Huntington Park.
Clippers starter Trevor Bauer did not get off to the best of starts. In the first inning, Cody Asche drove home a run with an RBI single to right. Darin Ruf also contributed with an RBI sacrifice fly to center in the first and an RBI single in the third. Cody Overbeck also made some noise in the third with a two run shot that landed in the left field bleachers. Bauer would only last three innings, giving up five runs on six hits.
Columbus finally got the bats going in the bottom of the fourth. Juan Diaz got it going with an RBI single to right. Nate Spears followed that with a two run single to right. Lehigh Valley’s Jermaine Mitchell drove home a run with an RBI single in the top of the fifth, but Clippers outfielder Tim Fedroff helped Columbus inch closer with an RBI triple in the bottom half of that frame.
It briefly became a one run ballgame when Matt Carson drove home Spears with an RBI single to center in the bottom of the sixth. However, the Pigs got that run back on a Steven Lerud solo homer in the seventh.
The Clippers continued to fight. Carson recorded his second RBI single of the night in the bottom of the eighth. In the ninth, the Clippers loaded the bases with one out. Chun Chen forced home a run by earning a walk. That set the stage for Clippers catcher Omir Santos, who on a 3-2 pitch, sent it just deep enough for Fedroff to score from third on a game-winning RBI sacrifice fly. Matt Langwell (W, 3-1) got the win for Columbus. Mauricio Robles (L,0-1) was hit with the loss for the Iron Pigs.
The Clippers will complete their four game series with Lehigh Valley on a Business Day special on Monday. Columbus will tap the talents of righty Joe Martinez (2-5, 6.25). The Iron Pigs will counter with right-hander Ethan Martin (7-3, 5.33). First pitch is scheduled for 12:05 PM.
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