The Columbus Clippers (24-28) lost to the Charlotte Knights (18-35) 18-9 Thursday night. It was night batting practice to end the series between the Clippers and Knights as they combined for seven doubles, two triples, seven homers and 27 total runs on 33 hits.
After winning the first two games of the series the Clippers lost the last two to the team with the International League’s worst record and split the series at two.
Neither starter fared well. Gabriel Arias (0-2, 5.73 ERA) had a rough day as he took the loss. Nine runs scored on him, three earned, on nine hits and five strikeouts in four and one-third innings. Tommy Hanson (3-4, 5.31 ERA) allowed seven earned runs on eight hits with one walk and two strikeouts in two and two-third innings, but received no decision. Mitchell Boggs (2-2, 8.51) took the win pitching two and two-third scoreless innings in relief.
The Clippers answered back after the big inning for Charlotte. Giovanny Urshela and Roberto Perez hit back-to-back singles to lead off the bottom of the second. After a doubleplay had Urshela on third with two down Ryan Rohlinger crushed his third homer of the year to make it 6-2 Knights.
A solo homer by Dan Black made it 6-2 in the top of the third, but the bottom of the frame belonged to Columbus. Audy Ciriaco hit a single to lead off the inning, Jose Ramirez walked and Tyler Holt singled to load the bases with no outs. A weak grounder off the bat of Elliot Johnson was well-placed and kicked off the bag at first to get over the head of the first baseman Black. It turned into a two-run double and a 7-4 game. Giovanny Urshela then crushed a double to left and made it 7-6 with the tying run on and no outs. After a pair of outs Rohlinger smacked a liner past third baseman Matt Davidson and the double tied the game 7 apiece.
The Knights rallied for another huge inning in the fifth. After allowing a pair of singles Arias was out and Benny Suarez made his 2014 Clippers debut, but it was as rough a day as it was for the starters. He allowed a single, grand slam, solo homer, walk and two-run homer before getting the final two outs in the fifth.
Black was not friendly to baseballs Thursday night. He was 4-4 with three homers: a solo shot, grand slam and three-run bomb. He was pulled after hitting a two-run homer the sixth, ending his day with seven RBI. He was the first Knight to homer three times in one game since 2012, which also came against the Clippers.
The right-handed hitters had a great game against righty starter Hanson. They were a combined 7-10 with two doubles and a homer with five RBI. Lefties and switch hitters were 1-6 with Johnson’s two-run double and a Ramirez’s walk.
Elliot Johnson made a pitching appearance. After starting the game as the first baseman Johnson relieved Frank Herrmann with two outs in the ninth and Ryan Rohlinger went from DH to first base.
The Clippers return to IL West play tomorrow as they begin a three-game two-day series with the Louisville Bats at 7:15 p.m. Danny Salazar (0-2, 7.88 ERA) will get the start for Columbus against Mat Latos (0-0, 4.50 ERA) on a rehab assignment for the Cincinnati Reds.
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