It was another night and another win for Columbus as the Clippers cruised past Indianapolis 7-4 at Victory Field.
Indianapolis wasted no time offensively striking first in the bottom of the 1st when Jody Mercer drove in Alex Presley with an RBI double. Felix Pie would later tack on another run for Indy in the bottom of the third, knocking in former Clipper Jared Goedert to give his squad a 2-0 lead.
Columbus would come right back in the top of the fourth. With two outs and runners on first and third, Clippers first baseman Mike McDade tied the game at 2-2 with a two run double that was just inside the left field foul line. The very next batter, Juan Diaz, would then give Columbus their first lead of the night, plating McDade with an RBI single to center to make it a 3-2 affair.
The Clippers would lengthen that lead in the top of the fifth with more two out clutch hitting. With the bases loaded, Yan Gomes lined a double down the right field line, bringing home two more runs.
The Indians would cut the deficit to two runs with an Alex Pressley solo homer in the bottom of the fifth, but Jeremy Hermida, whose grand slam powered the Clippers to victory the previous night, got that run back and more with a two run shot in the top of the seventh.
Despite scoring a run in the top of the ninth, the Clippers would win this contest, starting 2-0 on the 2013 campaign. Corey Kluber (W, 1-0) got the victory for Columbus. Gerrit Cole (L, 0-1) took the loss for Indianapolis.
Columbus continues its four game set with Indianapolis on Saturday night. Japanese right-hander Daisuke Matsuzaka will make his first career start for in a Clippers uniform. He’ll face off against Indians right-hander Kyle McPherson. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 pm.
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