Clippers End Season by Beating Mud Hens 8-7

In the final game of the 2013 season, Columbus defeated Toledo 8-7 on a game-winning RBI single by Chun Chen at Huntington Pak.

The Mud Hens wasted no time as they jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first on a Jordan Lennerton RBI double and Ben Guez RBI single. The Clippers responded in the bottom half of the frame when Matt LaPorta blasted a two run shot into the left field bleachers. The long ball gave LaPorta the record for most home runs hit by a single player at Huntington Park (38).

Lennerton helped the Hens regain the lead with an RBI single in the top of the third. A Danny Dorn RBI groundout to shortstop and a Ronny Paulino RBI single extended Toledo’s advantage to 5-2.

Columbus got one of those runs back when Ezequiel Carrera scored from third on a 4-6-3 double play turned in the bottom of the third. The Clippers then inched a little closer with an Omir Santos solo homer in the fourth.

The Clippers retook the lead in the bottom of the fifth thanks to shoddy defense exhibited by Toledo. With a runner on first and two outs, Nate Spears sent a dribbler up the third base line. The throw from Joe Link to first was nowhere close as it pin-balled within the Clippers bullpen. Chun Chen scored on the play which tied the game at 5-5.

During that same inning, Columbus grabbed another lead, 6-5, when Spears scored from third on an Argenis Diaz error at shortstop. The Clippers later tallied another run on a Ryan Rohlinger RBI single in the bottom of the sixth.

The Hens made it a 7-6 affair with Ronnie Paulino RBI single in the top of the seventh. They then tied it at 7-7 on a John Murrian solo homer in the eighth.

In the bottom of the ninth, the Clippers looked to end 2013 with a bang. Ryan Rohlinger led off the frame with a walk. After a Jeremy Hermida pop-out in foul territory. Matt LaPorta singled to left to move Rohlinger into scoring position. Chun Chen played the role of hero, driving in Rohlinger with a game-winning RBI single to left. Francisco Valera (W, 1-0) got the win for Columbus. Kerry Faulk (L, 0-3) took the loss for Toledo.

The Clippers finish 2013 with a 71-73 record while Toledo finishes with a 61-83 mark. A total of 635, 613 fans came through the gates of Huntington Park this season and the Clippers led minor league baseball in average attendance with 9,212.