Clippers lose to Bats on walk-off

LOUISVILLE, KY- The Columbus Clippers (56-49) fell to the Louisville Bats (51-54) 6-5 Wednesday night. The Clippers remain in a tie of first place thanks to an Indianapolis loss earlier in the day. The Clippers rallied multiple times against the reeling Bats, but Jason Bourgeois won the game on a walk-off double in the bottom of the ninth.

Vinnie Pestano (2-4, 2.00 ERA) allowed the rally and took the loss. Elvin Ramirez (2-2, 3.86 ERA) didn't allow a run in the top half of the ninth and received the win.

With the two teams trading runs neither starter factored into the decision. Tyler Cloyd (8-5, 4.19 ERA) pitched to contact Wednesday. He went six innings and allowed four runs on eight hits, but only didn't walk a batter and struck out one. David Holmberg (0-5, 4.74 ERA) recorded a quality start for the Bats. He went seven innings and was replaced in the eighth. He allowed four runs, two earned, on seven hits.

The Bats entered play with eight consecutive losses, but scored first Wednesday. Jason Bourgeois started the inning with a triple and scored on a groundout by Ruben Gotay.

The Clippers took the lead with a fourth inning rally. An unearned run tied the game after Tyler Holt reached on an error to start the inning and jogged home on an RBI double by Jesus Aguilar. "El Jefe" then came around to score on a two-out RBI double by Carlos Moncrief and gave the Clippers a 2-1 lead.

The Bats rallied for a pair of their own in the fourth to retake the lead. Jack Hannahan, with the Bats on rehab assignment from the Reds, drove in two on a double.

Aguilar drove in another run with a sacrifice fly in the sixth. Holt doubled and Lindor singles to start the inning. Aguilar's fly to right tied the game at three.

The Bats matched the Clippers again in the sixth. Rey Navarro drove in a run with a single and retook the lead for Louisville.

The Clippers scored again thanks to Aguilar in the eighth. Back-to-back singles by Chris Wallace and Holt started the inning. With one away Aguilar shot a ball to right and scored Wallace to tie the game. Giovanny Urshela then gave Columbus a 5-4 lead with an RBI single back up the middle.

As with every previous scoring inning for Columbus, Louisville scored in the bottom half. A passed ball with runners on second and third and two outs scored pinch runner Juan Silverio who was into the game for Neftali Soto.

Toru Murata (0-2, 6.40 ERA) is the man on the mound for Columbus Thursday in the finale. He will face Brett Marshall (0-6, 9.10 ERA) and the Bats at 7:05 p.m. in Louisville.