Playoff Recaps 9/16: Columbus repeats, Kinston falls

Clippers win the International League title (Photo: MiLB)

Clippers repeat as champions

Columbus knocked off Lehigh Valley in Game 4 on Friday night by a score of 4-1 to win the best-of-five series three games to one. Right-handed pitcher Chen-Chang Lee struck out Lehigh Valley's Brandon Moss for the final out in the ninth and then pandemonium ensued as the Clippers rushed to the field for an on-field pile up and celebration.

Lee pitched two shutout innings of relief and did not allow a baserunner while striking out four. He pitched in relief of right-handed starter Paolo Espino who was brilliant with seven strong innings where he allowed just one run on four hits, a walk, and had five strikeouts. He threw 59 of his 89 pitches for strikes and plowed through the Lehigh lineup and ended up facing just four batters over the minimum before he departed after the seventh inning.

Columbus got on the board quickly with two runs in the top of the second inning thanks to two out RBI hits by Juan Diaz and Paul Phillips. Jared Goedert hit a solo homer with one out in the third inning and the Clippers pushed across a run in the ninth inning after a wild pitch to close out their scoring.

It is the Clippers ninth championship as member of the International League, which is the most in the league since they joined the league in 1977. It is the third time they have repeated as champions as they previously did it with a three-peat from 1979-1981 and were repeat champions in 1991-1992.

Columbus is not done yet. They still have one more game to play as they will square off against the Pacific Coast League champion in the Triple-A National Championship game on Tuesday September 20th. The game will be played in Albuquerque, NM and will air on national TV at 8:00 p.m. ET on Versus.

Kinston's season ends in 11-3 loss

A disastrous third inning was too much for the K-Tribe to overcome Friday night in an 11-3 loss to Frederick in game four of the Mills Cup Championship Series. Frederick captured the Carolina League title, the franchises fourth, after beating Potomac and Kinston in the playoffs.

The K-Tribe clung to a 2-0 advantage entering the third. Kinston’s troubles in the frame proved crucial in deciding the game. Kinston pitched to 14 men, 11 of them scoring. Fredrick managed six hits, Kinston committed three errors and three walks. The K-Tribe used two pitchers who gave up the eleven runs, three earned. The score after three innings was 11-2 Fredrick.

Kinston got on the board in the bottom of the first inning when Jordan Casas hit his first homerun as a professional. With one out, Casas roped a sinking liner over the right field wall for his first professional bomb. Kinston then added a run in the second inning when Casey Frawley scampered home on an Alex Monsalve’s single. It was Monsalve’s first Carolina League at bat.

Kinston added one run in the fifth when Jordan Casas singled home Tyler Holt to close the scoring. The score was cut to 11-3.

Kinston and Fredrick sat in two separate rain delays on Friday Night in Kinston. The first delay, which was one hour and 11 minutes pushed back the start before a 61 minute delay delayed the fourth.

The winning pitcher for Fredrick was Ryohei Tanaka who improved to (1-1). The loss was given to Francisco Jimenez who fell to (0-1). The time of the game was two hours and forty minutes and the attendance was 969.

Three of Frederick’s four championships have come against Kinston.

Follow Tony and the Indians Prospect Insider on Twitter @TonyIPI. Also, his latest book the 2011 Cleveland Indians Top 100 Prospects & More is available for purchase for $20.95 to customers in the US (shipping and handling extra). Use discount code 2Z6F362B to receive 40% off the book through the site store!

Posted in: