Bats fall to Clippers in series opener

COLUMBUS, OH - The Louisville Bats (54-85) dropped game one of a four-game series to the Columbus Clippers (70-69) by a score of 10-1 on Friday night at Huntington Park.  
Both teams were held scoreless until the fifth inning. With no on and two outs, Eric Stamets reached on an error by Adam Brett Walker that allowed him to advance to second on the play. Prior to the miscue, Jackson Stephens (7-10, 4.92) had retired 12 straight hitters. Josh Wilson then doubled home Stamets, giving Columbus a 1-0 lead.
The game got away from the Bats an inning later, as the Clippers sent 13 batters to the plate in route to an eight-run sixth inning, highlighted by an Eric Haase two-run home run, his first career Triple-A hit.
Stephens lasted five and two-thirds innings, allowing five runs (four earned) on six hits and no walks while striking out a season-high nine hitters.
Louisville's lone run came in the eighth inning when Brandon Dixon collected his team-best 61^st RBI of the season on a single that brought home Garrett Boulware from second.
The Bats and Clippers will be back in action again tomorrow night at 7:15 p.m. Left-hander Cody Reed (4-9, 3.66) will start for Louisville while right-hander Julian Merryweather (3-6, 6.60) will get the ball for Columbus.