Clippers Sail Past PawSox, 7-2

(Pawtucket, RI) - The Columbus Clippers took advantage of four errors committed by the Pawtucket Red Sox to pull away with a 7-2 victory in front of a sell-out crowd of 11,408 fans (a season high) on Saturday night at McCoy Stadium.

The PawSox (42-41) scratched the scoreboard first, scoring their first run on Jantzen Witte's RBI single to center in the second.

Witte then led off the next half-inning with a diving play towards the third base line to rob Yhoxian Medina of a hit.

The play supported Pawtucket starter Aaron Wilkerson (4-2), who surrendered just three hits without allowing a run in his first three frames. However, Wilkerson's defense did not provide him the same support in the middle innings.

After a single and a walk began the top of the fourth, Giovanny Urshela pushed a bunt between the mound and first base. The first baseman Court picked it up and attempted to tag Urshela but the umpire ruled that he missed the tag, loading the bases with nobody out.

The next batter, Michael Choice, hit a groundball towards short that Deven Marrero snatched, but his throw home was well wide of the mark, allowing the Clippers (45-38) to tie the game.

Marrero ranged in the whole to make an off-balance throw to the plate on the next play and this time he recorded the out.

However, the next hitter, Joey Butler, lined a three-run double into the right center field gap that put Columbus ahead, 4-1.

In addition to the four-run fourth, the Clippers tacked on three more runs in the sixth.

Urshela led off the sixth with a single, and two batters later, Ronny Rodriguez reached on Henry Ramos' dropped flyball in right field.

Joe Butler then doubled to center, easily scoring Urshela. The PawSox had both Rodriguez and Butler trapped at third base on the play but as they attempted to complete the rundown, Witte threw the ball to the backstop, allowing both runs to score.

In the end, Wilkerson recorded a quality start, allowing seven runs, but only three earned, in seven innings. He struck out five and walked one.

"We didn't take care of the baseball behind him and it's a credit to him to be able to get seven innings out of him," said manager Kevin Boles. "I'm very impressed on how Wilkerson went after the hitters and kept his composure."

Robby Scott pitched two perfect innings of relief.

The rehabbing Ryan Hanigan played all nine innings at catcher, going 0-for-3 with a walk.

Columbus reliever David Speer (1-0) earned the win in his Triple-A debut. The Columbia University graduate and Connecticut native, who grew up coming to McCoy, was called up to temporarily fill the void in Columbus' bullpen. The lefty tossed three innings, surrendering one run on three hits. He struck out two and at one point retired eight straight Pawtucket batters.

Rusney Castillo tallied two hits, both against Speer, to raise his batting average to .345 in his last eight contests. He scored his team's second run on Mike Miller's RBI groundout in the eighth inning.

The PawSox complete their holiday-weekend series against the Clippers tomorrow at 6:05 p.m. Lefthander Eduardo Rodriguez (0-3, 3.54) is scheduled make his first start for Pawtuket since May against Columbus righty Adam Plutko (2-1, 1.93). Radio coverage on WHJJ (920 AM) and throughout the PawSox radio network begins at 5:35 p.m.

A limited quantity of seats for tomorrow's game, which features a post-game fireworks show, are still available at the McCoy Stadium box office; call (401) 724-7300 or visit pawsox.com to get your tickets today.