Facing an 8-0 deficit, the Clippers could only hope that the last-place Mud Hens were able to beat the first-place Bats down in Louisville. Thankfully, the Mud Hens scored 8 unanswered runs and ended up winning their game by a score of 8-3. The Clippers meanwhile couldn't get anything going offensively and eeked out only 4 hits on the night. The only bright spot on the evening was the relief work turned in by Carlton Smith, Jess Todd and Saul Rivera who put up 5 scoreless innings after David Huff yielded right runs in his 4 innings of work.
The Clippers are still 1 ½ games out of first and will look to turn the tables on the Indians tonight at Huntington Park.
Team Hitting: 0R, 4H, XBH, 2BB, 2 GIDP, 120 pitches seen
There are no real victories to take away from a game like the one on Saturday. Four hits, no runs and only six base-runners (two of which were wiped away with GIDP's) is a horrible night at the plate by any standard. Dana Evealnd continued his dominance over the Cleveland Indians organization's various affiliates as he threw 3 1/3 scoreless innings before being pulled, but in his Major League career he is 2-0, 1.50 ERA, 1.17WHIP against the Tribe.
The only small moral victory that the Clippers can take from last night's game is that despite only sending 32 men to the plate (5 over the minimum), they were able to see 120 pitches which is 3.75 pitches/PA. If the Clippers were going down, they weren't going down swinging, which in baseball can be a good thing. They were patient and they didn't strike out twenty times either. The Clippers were working the count all night and making sure to see a fair number of pitches while still putting the ball in play. This approach is indicative of good things to come. If you don't believe me, I'll direct you toward the Kansas City Royals hack-tastic ways of 2010 that have led to a top-3 league leading batting average, and nearly league worst runs scored. The reason for this of course is that they have drawn the 2nd fewest walks in the league and have hit for the 3rd lowest power in the league. You need patience as well as the ability to make hard contact; the Clippers did this last night, only the balls they hit didn't find the gaps.
Team Pitching: 8(8) R(ER), 12H, 3BB, 9K, 65 strikes, 52% GB
David Huff got beat up pretty good last night. He was hit around to the tune of 17 total bases in addition to his two BB's in only four innings. He was producing GB's at a decent clip as 3 of his 9 hits allowed were ground balls, but he still was allowing the ball to be put in play way too often.
Carlton Smith on the other hand was on top of his game. He threw 76% strikes in his 2 innings of work and struck out four batters in that time. He gave up back to back singles in the 5th, but ended the threat by inducing yet another ground-ball out. In his two innings of work he allowed one weak fly out to center, two ground outs and four strikeouts. The potential for damage is limited when the ball is barely leaving the catcher's mitt, let alone the infield.
The Clippers will host the Indians for the final time this season at Huntington Park and will send the recently acquired Zach McAllister to the mound. He will be opposed by Michael Crotta. The Louisville Bats face the Toledo Mud Hens again at 2:05pm, and the Clippers should know whether they need to merely hold serve or if they can gain a game as the Bats-Mud Hens outcome should be decided before the Clippers throw out the first pitch at 5:05pm.
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