The Columbus Clippers (38-33) rallied to beat the Buffalo Bisons (32-36) 6-2. The Clippers had three runs on two hits in the first seven innings and rallied for three runs on four hits to provide separation in the eighth. The win is the seventh straight for Columbus, the longest current win streak in the International League.
Sean Nolin (2-4, 3.70 ERA) left the game early with an undisclosed injury. He retired the first seven Clippers he faced and then lost control. In the third inning Nolin left the game after throwing a 1-2 pitch to Jesus Aguilar for a ball. His final line was three earned runs on one hit with two walks and one hit batter and three strikeouts in two and one-third innings. Former Clipper Mike Zagurski replaced Nolin in the third inning. Kyle Davies (4-4, 3.81 ERA) was quality Tuesday night. He allowed two runs, both unearned, on six hits and two walks with a strikeout in six innings. Vinnie Pestano got the final four outs for save number six.
The Clippers got a big rally in the third as a result of Nolin’s struggles. The Clippers had the bases loaded and a run in before Nolin left the game. Ryan Rohlinger was hit by a pitch with one out, Justin Sellers singled and Tyler Holt walked to fill the bags. Elliot Johnson walked and made it 1-0 Clippers. After Zagurski replaced Nolin in Aguilar’s at bat “El Jefe” walked and it was 2-0 Clippers. Adam Abraham hit a sac fly to cap off the inning.
The Bisons struck back in the fourth. An error by shortstop Audy Ciriaco allowed Kevin Pillar to reach. An RBI double by Brad Glenn cut the Columbus lead to two.
Buffalo scored another unearned run in the fifth to cut the Columbus lead to one. Ryan Goins crushed a ball at third baseman Giovanny Urshela that was mishandled to start the third. After Jonathan Diaz singled Adron Chambers singled to score Goins and made it a 3-2 game.
The Clippers got some insurance in the eighth inning. A one-out double by Giovanny Urshela was the first extra-base hit for Columbus and the third on the night. Roberto “RoboCop” Perez singled to score Urshela. Ciriaco then crushed a ball to center that turned into an RBI single and made it 5-2 Clippers. Sellers hit a blooper to right to score Ciriaco.
Travis Banwart (4-2, 3.59 ERA) gets the call for game three against Kyle Drabek (4-6, 4.46 ERA) and the Bisons at 7:05 p.m. Wednesday.
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