The Columbus Clippers (40-36) beat the Lehigh Valley IronPigs (38-39) 6-4 Sunday. The Clippers pitchers combined to retire 21 batters in a row Sunday afternoon. All four of the Lehigh Valley runs scored in the second and four of five hits came in that inning. The Clippers didn’t allow a walk in the win.
Tyler Cloyd (5-4, 4.73 ERA) had one rough inning and then settled in to retire the last 17 he faced. He went seven innings and allowed four runs on four hits with no walks and three strikeouts. Tyler Knigge (1-1, 3.75 ERA) went two and one-third innings in relief for the IronPigs and allowed the go-ahead run in the seventh. Austin Adams got the last six outs for his first save of the year.
Sean O’Sullivan (3-6, 4.31 ERA) took no decision in the start for Lehigh Valley. He allowed four runs, three earned, on three hits with three walks and struck out seven across four and two-third innings.
Just as it did Saturday the Clippers’ first run came on a throwing error. Elliot Johnson singled with one out and Jesus Aguilar walked. Adam Abraham hit a chopper right at O’Sullivan, but his throw to second to start a doubleplay was wide and went into center field. Johnson scored on the error.
Also a carbon copy from Satuday’s game was Audy Ciriaco. He homered for the second time in as many games and gave the Clippers a 3-0 lead in the top of the second on a two-run shot. He is in third place on the team with seven homers.
The IronPigs bounced back in the second. Rusty Ryal singled to score Maikel Franco and made it 3-1. After another single put two aboard Sebastian Valle crushed a three-run homer and gave the IronPigs the lead. The homer was the 16th allowed by Cloyd, most in the International League.
The home run ball helped out the Clippers in the fourth. Roberto “RoboCop” Perez tied the game at four with an opposite-field shot to right to lead off the inning. The homer tied him with Ciriaco at seven homers.
The Clippers retook the lead in the seventh. Ciriaco led off the frame with a single and was sacrificed to second by Ryan Rohlinger. Elliot Johnson ripped a triple to give Columbus a 5-4 lead.
Travis Banwart (4-2, 3.54 ERA) gets the call Monday as the Clippers try for the series win. He and the Clippers will face Brad Lincoln (4-3, 4.24 ERA) and the IronPigs at 7:05 p.m. to wrap up the series at Lehigh Valley.
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