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Bats drop series opener 4-1 to Clippers

April 15, 2013

COLUMBUS, Oh - The Louisville Bats continued their eight-game road trip on Monday night by traveling to Columbus, but fell to the Clippers 4-1 at Huntington Park. After splitting a four-game series in Toledo, Monday's contest was the first of a three-game set with the Clippers. Bats starting pitcher Armando Galarraga, who also faced Columbus last week at Slugger Field, left the game in the fourth inning with an apparent arm injury, and the contest went south from there for Louisville.

After Columbus scored one run in the fourth inning off Galarraga on a ball that could have potentially been a double play, the Clippers added an unearned run in the fifth, then tacked on a two-run home run from Juan Diaz in the sixth off reliever Nick Christiani to push their lead to 4-1.

Louisville had a golden opportunity to flip a 1-0 deficit into a lead in the fifth inning after loading the bases with no outs, but a hard hit ground ball from Corky Miller proved unlucky and wound up right in the glove of Diaz at his shortstop position. Diaz, who had three RBIs on the night, turned the double play, and Neftali Soto crossing the plate was the only run the Bats could muster in the inning. Louisville's offense was held in check by the Clippers pitching for the remainder of the night.  

Galarraga was solid over his three-and-two-thirds innings, allowing a pair of hits, two walks and fanning four. With his performance cut short, however, he was overshadowed by the Clippers Scott Kazmir, who was on an injury rehab start before returning to the major league club in Cleveland.

 Kazmir went five innings and his one allowed run was unearned. The left-hander didn't walk any and struck out five. Carlos Carrasco pitched the final four innings for Columbus, and was flawless, not allowing a base runner en route to his first career save.  

Jason Donald had two hits for the Bats, earning his third multi-hit game of the season, this time against his former team. Wilkin De La Rosa and Clay Hensley each pitched an inning of scoreless relief for Louisville to keep the Bats close.

Tuesday night's game between the Bats and Clippers will be at 6:35 PM. RHP Greg Reynolds (1-0, 2.45) will be on the hill for Louisville, while Columbus will counter with RHP Joe Martinez (0-1, 1.54).