Cingrani extends scoreless streak, gets first career Triple-A win
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Tony Cingrani (1-0) took the mound for the first time since his dominating Opening Night performance, where he struck out 14 through six innings of no-hit, one walk baseball against the Mud Hens. The Columbus Clippers did not fare much better in this one. Cingrani struck out seven Columbus batters while giving up just three hits and one walk in 6.1 innings. He exited after throwing 102 pitches. The solid start brings Cingrani's scoreless streak to start the year to 12.1 innings. Justin Freeman and Clay Hensley were solid out of the bullpen, completing the shutout and preserving the Bats' victory, 4-0.
After posting a minor league best 1.79 ERA between Single-A Bakersfield and Double-A Pensacola last year, Cingrani has not slowed down at the Triple-A level. To go along with the scoreless streak, Cingrani has posted an impressive 21 strikeouts to only two walks, giving up just three hits in two outings.
Henry Rodriguez and Mike Hessman carried the Bats' offense. After a throwing error and a balk in the bottom of the third, a Rodriguez base hit plated the Bats' first run of the game.
Felix Perez led off the bottom of the fourth with a single, and Hessman smashed a home run onto the berm in left-center to push the Bats' lead to 3-0. The homer is Hessman's fifth of the year, and five of his six hits this season have been home runs. He finished the night 1-for-4.
Rodriguez came through again in the seventh with runners on first and second, driving in his second run of the game, making the Bats lead 4-0. Rodriguez was 3-for-4 with two RBI, the lone Bat with multiple hits.
The Bats' bullpen had been a sore spot so far this season allowing at least one run in every game, but Freeman and Hensley pitched well out of the pen tonight, allowing just three base runners in 2.1 innings of work.
Billy Hamilton came into the game red hot hitting .500 and was 6-for-6 in stolen bases, but proved to be mortal today. He led off the game attempting to bunt his way on, but popped out weakly to the third baseman. After reaching via a walk in the third, he was picked off between second and third base resulting in his first caught stealing of the season. He finished the night 0-for-3 with a walk.
Also of note, Corky Miller hit his 91st career double as a Bat, leaving him just six shy of all-time Bats' leader, Kevin Barker. Miller was 1-for-4 on the night.
For Columbus, righty Joe Martinez (0-1) suffered the loss, allow just two earned runs in six innings with one walk and a pair of strikeouts.
The Bats' record improves to 4-2, and the Clippers fall to 3-3.
The final game of the home stand will be Wednesday at 6:35, with the Bats' Armando Galarraga (1-0, 1.80) facing Corey Kluber (1-0, 4.50) of the Clippers. Wednesday night is ladies night courtesy of Sun Tan City! Ladies 16 or older can visit any Sun Tan City location and receive a coupon voucher for a half-priced field reserved ticket valid for any Wednesday home game.