The Columbus Clippers (49-44) were flummoxed by the knuckleball and fell to the Pawtucket Red Sox (49-46) 3-1. Columbus only managed three hits against Pawtucket as the PawSox took the series three games to one.
Toru Murata (0-1, 4.55 ERA) was solid for the Clippers in the loss. He allowed just two runs on seven hits in seven and one-third innings with one walk and tied a season high with seven strikeouts. Unfortunately for Columbus former Clipper Steven Wright (4-1, 2.04 ERA) was that much better. The knuckleballer allowed no runs in eight innings on two hits with three walks and eight strikeouts. Tommy Layne closed out the ninth for his eighth save.
A long drive to left gave Pawtucket the first run of the game. Dan Butler hit a smash halfway up the beachers in left and made it 1-0.
Carlos Moncrief saved a run in the seventh. With runners on the corners and one out Butler made a bid for his second RBI with a liner hit to Moncrief in right. Garin Cecchini tried to score, but had no chance as Mocrief gunned him out. The outfield assist was his 15th, most in the International League.
Pawtucket scored two in the eighth inning to create some separation from the Clippers.
The Clippers begin a six-game four-day series with division leading Indianapolis to end the first half. The Clippers and Indians will play doubleheaders Thursday and Saturday. Danny Salazar (3-5, 4.93 ERA) starts game one of a doubleheader for Columbus against the Indy Indians at Victory Field at 6:05 p.m. Thursday.
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