On a long Memorial Day in western New York, the Clippers (29-21) took a 4-0 lead after two innings on Buffalo (26-25), the Bisons tied it in the fifth, and the two teams remained scoreless until the top of the 12th inning, where Adam Moore’s RBI single plating Ronny Rodriguez gave Columbus the lead and a 5-4 win in front of 7,428 fans at Coca-Cola Field.
With the bases loaded and two outs in the top of the second inning, the Clippers received a clutch, bases-clearing double from Erik Gonzalez to put Columbus up 3-0.
Gonzalez was outstanding at the plate during the day, going 5-for-6 with four singles, a double, three RBI and a run scored.
Tyler Naquin was denied an inside the park home run on a controversial play the next at bat, but his rip to right field plated Gonzalez to extend the lead to four.
Buffalo would chip away, however, and eventually tie the game at four in the fifth, as doubles from Casey Kotchman, Alexi Casilla and Domonic Brown provided the big hits needed in that fifth frame for the Bisons to pull even.
Although both teams threatened in the next several innings, another run was not put on the scoreboard until Moore’s single in the 12th.
Both starters, Columbus’ Will Roberts and Buffalo’s Chris Leroux, did not receive a decision, as they had almost identical lines on the day.
Both went six innings, allowing seven hits while allowing four runs, striking out a pair of batters and walking two, with the only difference being that Leroux’s runs given up were all unearned.
Tom Gorzelanny (1-1) picked up the win in relief, as the Clippers bullpen threw six scoreless innings following Roberts’ departure after the sixth.
Chad Jenkins (2-2) suffered the loss for the Bisons while Toru Murata was credited with his third save of the season.
The Clippers and Bisons will go back at it for round two of their three game series tomorrow night at 6:05 p.m. Two righties will grace the pitching mound as Jarrett Grube (0-2, 4.54 ERA) will throw for Columbus against Drew Hutchison (1-2, 3.18 ERA) for Buffalo.
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