Clippers Top PawSox, 10-6

(Columbus, OH) - The Columbus Clippers used 14 hits and 10 runs over the first five innings to put away the Pawtucket Red Sox, 10-6, on Saturday night at Huntington Park.

The PawSox (51-50) have dropped a season high-tying four games in a row.

The Pawtucket offense entered the game having tallied only four hits in its previous 16 innings but the bats rebounded against Columbus starter Mike Clevinger (10-1).

Chris Marrero began the scoring with his league lead-tying 19th home run of the year and seventh in July, a solo shot with two outs in the first inning. 

The Clippers (56-46) quickly tied the game back up on Jesus Aguilar's RBI single to center against PawSox starter William Cuevas (6-5) in the bottom of the first.

Mike Miller responded with a two-out RBI single in the second to put Pawtucket back ahead 2-1.

Columbus answered back with two runs to take a 3-2 lead in the bottom half of the frame.

Michael Choice reached on an error by center fielder Ryan LaMarre, Guillermo Quiroz delivered an RBI single, Collin Cowgill doubled and Yhoxian Medina recorded a sacrifice fly.

The Clippers tacked on another run in the third to take a 4-2 advantage into the fourth inning, but the PawSox rallied for their biggest frame of the night against Clevinger.

Two singles and a walk loaded the bases before a wild pitch brought home the first run of the inning. Next, LaMarre collected a game-tying RBI single and Marco Hernandez added an RBI single of his own to put Pawtucket up, 5-4.

The lead was brief because Columbus piled on four runs in the bottom of the fourth.

In an identical start to the top half of the frame, a single and two walks loaded the bases. Ronny Rodriguez lifted a sacrifice fly to tie the game. The next batter, Yandy Diaz hammered a two-run triple out of the reach of LaMarre in center and Giovanny Urshela drove in Diaz with a single to center, propelling the Clippers to an 8-5 lead.

Cuevas loaded the bases again with two singles and a walk in the fifth and was relieved by Noe Ramirez. Ramirez surrendered a bases-loaded walk and a wild pitch, forcing two more earned runs on to Cuevas' line.

Cuevas allowed 10 runs, eight earned, on 11 hits. He surrendered 11 hits for his second straight start. No PawSox pitcher had previously allowed more than seven runs in a game this season.

Ramirez struck out six straight batters at one point and Pat Light pitched a scoreless eighth.

Pawtucket tallied 10 hits in the game, including two knocks for Chris Marrero, Jantzen Witte and Mike Miller. Witte scored three runs while Miller picked up two RBI.

The PawSox conclude their four-game series against the Clippers tomorrow afternoon at 4:05 p.m. Radio coverage on WHJJ (920 AM) and throughout the PawSox radio network begins at 3:35 p.m.

The PawSox return home for a seven-game homestand against the top two teams in the league, the Rochester Red Wings and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, beginning on Monday. Good seats for each game are still available at the McCoy Stadium box office; call (401) 724-7300 or visit pawsox.com to get your tickets today.