After a 33-minute rain delay early in the game Wednesday and a second delay that led to a postponement the Columbus Clippers (38-35) played two against the Buffalo Bisons (34-36) Thursday afternoon. Game one ended the Clippers’ seven-game winning streak and game two earned the series split for the Bisons. Game one concluded the third game of the series which was stopped in the fourth inning Wednesday and game two was seven innings to wrap up the series.
Kyle Drabek (5-6, 4.16 ERA) dominated the continuation of game one. He came in for the fourth inning and went five innings allowing no runs with one hit and two walks and struck out one batter. Nick Hagadone (2-4, 3.76 ERA) took the loss allowing three runs to the Bisons in two innings of relief.
Neither starter factored into the decision of game one. Esmil Rogers (1-1, 3.79 ERA) started game one for Buffalo and trailed 3-1 Wednesday night before the game was called for rain. He went three innings and allowed three runs on five hits and two walks with a pair of strikeouts. Travis Banwart (4-2, 3.54 ERA) started game one for the Clippers, but with the suspension of play was forced to take no-decision. He went three and two-third innings and allowed one run on seven hits and no walks with two strikeouts. Banwart left with runners on the corners and two outs in the top of the fourth.
The Clippers struck first before the rain started. In the first Giovanny Urshela drove in a pair with a two-run double smashed down the line in left.
In the bottom of the second with Carlos Moncrief at the plate the Clippers had the first rain delay. Moncrief had a 2-1 count on him when the rain started. Almost as soon as the tarp was put down the rain stopped. After the delay Moncrief walked and Adam Abraham laid down a bunt single. Tim Fedroff scored Moncrief on a single and gave Columbus a 3-0 advantage.
The Bisons scored a run on an RBI single by Ryan Schimpf when the game was postponed in the top of the fourth Wednesday night.
After game one was restarted a big swing by Jared Goedert gave Buffalo the lead. A three-run homer in the sixth made it 4-3 Bisons as they went on to take the first game 5-3.
T.J. House (1-3, 3.42 ERA) did not have the return to Columbus he would have liked. After pitching his past six appearances with Cleveland House went six innings and allowed seven runs on nine hits with two walks and three strikeouts Thursday. He had only allowed one homer in his first seven starts with Columbus, but allowed two to Buffalo. Austin Bibens-Dirkx (2-1, 3.91 ERA) pitched well after being called up by the Bisons Wednesday. He allowed four runs on seven hits in five innings with two walks and three strikeouts. Bobby Korecky closed out both of the games for his seventh and eighth saves of the year.
The Clippers started quick in game two with a four-run rally. Urshela drove in a run with an RBI double to right. He was followed by a three-run shot off the bat of Moncrief to give Columbus a 4-0 edge.
Buffalo struck right back with a three-run second on two hits and one walk. Then a two-run homer by Brad Glenn in the third made it 5-4 Bisons. The Bisons homered again in the fourth when Andy LaRoche put one out and gave Buffalo a 6-4 lead as they won 7-4 in game two.
The Clippers begin a 10-game road trip at the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs Friday. Danny Salazar (1-3, 6.11 ERA) will start the first game of the series against Greg Smith (4-5, 4.31 ERA) for the IronPigs. Game one will be a 7:05 p.m. first pitch.
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