The Columbus Clippers (58-52) rolled the Norfolk Tides (50-59) 11-5 Sunday night. The ebbs and flows of a long season continued as the Clippers scored as many runs Sunday as in their previous three combined against the Tides. There was a delay of little more than half an hour in a 4-3 game and the Clippers rallied for six runs in the seventh after the delay. The win extended Columbus’ division lead to two games.
Gabriel Arias (5-2, 3.86 ERA) spun his fourth quality start in seven starts for Columbus. He allowed three runs on five hits with three walks and five strikeouts in six innings. Chris Jones (6-6, 4.07 ERA) did not have a good start for Norfolk. He lasted just three and one-third innings and allowed four runs on eight hits with one walks and two strikeouts.
The Clippers had a big first inning under overcast skies. Tyler Holt hit a lead-off single up the middle. After Holt stole third and moved to third on a Francisco Lindor fly out the offense took off. Jesus Aguilar walked, Giovanny Urshela doubled, Carlos Moncrief doubled and Matt Carson drove in a run on a grounder to second.
Norfolk mounted a two-out rally in the fifth to cut into the Columbus lead. Julio Borbon singled and Quintin Berry laid down a bunt single in front of a Jimmy Paredes three-run homer to right. The blast cut the Clippers lead to 4-3.
With two outs in the bottom of the sixth the skies suddenly opened up over Huntington Park. The delay lasted 36 minutes.
The Clippers scored in the next full inning after the delay. They scored a lot. The seventh turned in six run for the Clippers. A double by Urshela to score Holt was the first before it got ugly. With Aguilar on third Carson walked to load the bases. On a full count offering with two outs Audy Ciriaco skied the pitch into right field. Norfolk right fielder Henry Urrutia never saw it. The ball landed fifteen feet behind him and all the runners scored on a triple. Justin Sellers put one over the left field wall to turn the lead into a rout.
The series and season finale is a noon game Monday. The Clippers and Tides have a first pitch at 12:05 p.m. Columbus hands the ball to Kyle Davies (6-7, 4.06 ERA) against Steve Johnson (0-0, 5.95 ERA) and the Tides.
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