Clippers Escape with 5-4 Win over Pawtucket

The Columbus Clippers (49-41) beat the Pawtucket Red Sox (46-46) 5-4 Sunday evening. Despite being outhit by Pawtucket the Clippers got timely hitting and won thanks to a four-run fifth inning.

It was another game and another quality start for Zach McAllister (5-0, 2.23 ERA). In his six starts for Columbus five have been quality and he has not allowed more than three runs in any start in 2014. He went six innings and allowed two runs on eight hits with two walks and three strikeouts.

Chris Hernandez (4-7, 3.63 ERA) put forth an admirable effort out of the bullpen. He went four innings, but allowed five runs, four earned, on five hits with three walks and three strikeouts. All four earned runs were in his last inning of work.

Things got interesting in the ninth as Mark Lowe allowed a pair of runs, but in the end he closed out the ninth for save number 12.

Rubby De La Rosa (2-4, 3.51 ERA) basically just got in a bullpen session as the starter for Pawtucket. He went one inning and allowed one walk with one strikeout.

Columbus took the lead in the first on an unearned run in the third. Ryan Rohlinger doubled with one out and got to third on a ground out. A smash to third off the bat of Elliot Johnson was corralled by third base man Garin Cecchini, but a poor throw allowed Rohlinger to score.

Cecchini made up for it in the fourth. After Travis Shaw doubled against the Clippers shift down the third base line Cecchini tied it with an RBI single. The Washington Court House, Ohio, native, Cecchini, then stole second and scored on a Deven Marrero single.

The Clippers took the lead thanks to Johnson in the fifth. After Rohlinger walked to start the inning Johnson hit a one-out smash to left that left the park and gave the Clippers a 3-2 lead. After Johnson’s homer “El Jefe” Jesus Aguilar doubled and Giovanny Urshela walked. Audy Ciriaco drove in the pair with a double in the left-center gap.

Columbus goes for win 50 Monday at Huntington Park. The Clippers will give the ball to Kyle Davies (4-6, 3.92 ERA) against Matt Barnes (3-6, 4.85 ERA) and Pawtucket at 7:05 p.m.