The Indianapolis Indians completed the four-game sweep Sunday with an 8-3 win in the opening series over the Columbus Clippers. The loss gets the season off to the worst start for the Clippers since starting the season 0-8 in 2001. After losing the season series to two-time defending International League West champs Indians 9-12 in 2013, the 2014 campaign has started with a big Indians advantage.
Getting the win for Indianapolis was lefty Adam Wilk, who went five and two-thirds innings and allowed just two runs on five hits and striking out three. For the Clippers Tyler Cloyd took the loss lasting only three and two-thirds and surrendering seven runs, six earned, on 11 hits. Cloyd did strike out three compared to one walk.
Offensively the Indians dominated. Right fielder Gregory Polanco, third baseman Brent Morel and second baseman Blake Davis each had multi-RBI games. Polanco, the number one prospect in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization, went 3-5 scoring two runs and driving in two more on a two-run homer in the fourth. Morel was also 3-5 with two runs driven in, but had a two-run double in a four-run third for the Indians. Davis, who was called up after starting shortstop Robert Andino was placed on the disabled list April 5, went 2-4 with a walk smacking an RBI-double in the second and RBI-single in the seventh.
The Clippers couldn’t muster must offense only getting three runs on eight hits in the game. Despite five of those being extra-base hits Columbus only had two multi-hit innings, the sixth and ninth, scoring in each. The offensive gem of the game and early in the season has been Jesus Aguilar. His batting average is at .583 on the season after going 2-3 with a double, a walk, and smacked a solo homer to right in the fourth inning.
The Clippers begin a three game set with the Louisville Bats in Columbus Monday at 6:35 p.m. Columbus will send righty Travis Banwart and Louisville will counter with lefty David Holmberg.
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