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| Jerad Head (Photo: IPI) |
It was night of offense at Huntington Park and Columbus was able to walk off with an 8-7 triumph over the Norfolk Tides.
The scoring began for Columbus in the bottom of the first. Cord Phelps hit a one out double into right centerfield. The next batter, Luis Valbuena, belted a drive that was just off the top of the right field wall which was good enough to drive in Phelps and give Columbus a 1-0 advantage. Following Valbuena's RBI single, Jerad Head powered up and crushed a two run shot to deep centerfield to make it 3-0 in favor of the Clippers.
The Tides would get on the board in the top of the second when Robbie Widlansky hit a home run that went well over the right field wall and landed on Nationwide Boulevard, making it 3-1.
It looked like it would be another big inning for the Clippers offense in the bottom of the second. Jared Goedert led off the inning with a humpback liner that found its way into shallow centerfield. That was followed by a Beau Mills walk. Paul Phillips was then hit by a pitch on a 3-2 count to load the bases with nobody out.
Tim Fedroff would then drive home a run with a sacrifice fly to left field, extending the Clippers lead to 4-0. Following a Cord Phelps strikeout, Luis Valbuena hit a liner that got down for a base hit in right field, but Mills was tagged out at home for the final out when Mills attempted to score from second.
The top of the third proved to be a dangerous inning for Gomez. After a one out walk by Matt Angle and Ryan Adams single, Jake Fox hit a grounder up the middle that eluded the gloves of Luis Valbuena and Cord Phelps. It allowed Angle to score and make it 4-2. Thankfully, Gomez was able to get out of the inning by striking out Tyler Henson and Robbie Widlansky.
The Clippers went back to the bat rack in the bottom of the third. Shelley Duncan hit a one out double to right center field. The next batter, Nick Johnson, pulverized a pitch that landed on Nationwide Boulevard and increased the Clippers lead to 6-2.
The Tides could have had a big inning in the top of the fourth. John Hester reached base on a one-out walk. Carlos Rojas then hit a grounder that went through the wickets of Clippers third baseman Jared Goedert and into left field. Kyle Hudson coaxed a four pitch walk from Gomez to load the bases with only one out. Matt Angle then hit a fly ball to left field that was deep enough to score Hester from third to make it 6-3. It would stay that way as Gomez got Ryan Adams to groundout to third to end the frame.
In the sixth, Columbus was able to parlay shaky Norfolk defense into offense. Tim Fedroff reached second after a throwing error by Tides shortstop Carlos Rojas. Two batters later, Luis Valbuena walked. Jerad Head then delivered with an RBI Double down the left field line, augmenting the Clippers lead to 7-3.
Things became a little closer in the top of the seventh. Brendan Harris roped a two out single into right field, driving in two runs and making it 7-5 Columbus.
The lead would evaporate in the top of the 8th. Ryan Adams crushed a two out two run blast off the Columbus Dispatch scoreboard, tying the contest at 8-8.
The Clippers would finally seize the victory in the bottom of the ninth. Jerad Head singled to begin the frame. Shelly Duncan was then hit by a pitch, putting the winning run in scoring position. After a Nick Johnson sacrifice bunt that moved both runners into scoring position, Jared Goedert was intentionally walked to set up a force at home. It set the stage for Chad Huffman, who came through with a single to right field, giving the Clippers an 8-7 victory.
Norfolk and Columbus will finish up their four game series tomorrow afternoon. Zach McAllister (8-3) will start for the Clippers. He will face Steve Johnson (0-4), who gets the start for the Tides. First pitch is scheduled for 12:05 pm.
Captains Win 6-3 Over the Lugnuts
A three run second inning on Monday night lead Lake County past Lansing 6-3. Moises Montero had an RBI single and Kevin Fontanez drove in a pair with a double to leftfield.
In the first inning, Lugnut Marcus Knecht tripled off the leftfield wall giving the Lugnuts a 2-0 lead.
The Captains took the lead in the second inning. Ronny Rodriguez scored from third on a wild pitch from Tyler Powell to make it 2-1. Nick Bartolone hit sacrifice fly to centerfield scoring Brian Heere to tie the game. Carlos Moncrief’s RBI double with two-outs game the Captains a 3-2 lead.
Kirk Wetmore (3-0) tossed five innings allowing three runs on four hits, walking four and striking out one for the win. Clayton Ehlert worked 1.1 innings for his 14th save of the season. Tyler Powell (2-2) suffered the loss allowing six runs on seven hits in just 2.1 innings, walking three and striking out one.
Lake County will head to Midland, for a four game set with Great Lakes at Dow Diamond on Tuesday night at 7:05PM. The Captains will send RHP Jordan Cooper (2-3) to the mound against RHP Garrett Gould (10-5) for the Loons.
Scrappers stay in first place, win 14-3
Mahoning Valley remained in first place in the Pinckney Division with a 14-3 win, and at 26-18 they own the second best record in the NY-Penn League.
Right-hander Robert Nixon had another quality outing getting the win and going six innings and allowing three runs on seven hits, one walk, and had four strikeouts. Lefty Harold Guerrero finished the game in relief going two shutout innings.
The game featured the return of outfielder Bryson Myles who has been out for a few weeks with a hamstring injury. He went 1-for-3 with an RBI in his return. The Scrappers were led by third baseman Jordan Smith went 3-for-4 with three runs scored a walk and RBI, and second baseman Todd Hankins went 3-for-5 with two runs scored, a home run, and three RBI.
Note: Akron and Kinston had scheduled off days on Monday.
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