Clippers best Braves 2-1 in eleven innings

For the second straight night, the Clippers were extra inning winners as they beat Gwinnett 2-1 in eleven innings at Huntington Park.

It was a pitcher's duel between Gwinnett's Kameron Loe and Clippers righty Joe Martinez to begin this game. Through the first five innings, both starters combined for seven strikeouts while both teams tallied only a collective three hits.

The scoreless tie would be broken up by the Braves in the top of the sixth. Ernesto Meijia came through with an RBI single to left to give Gwinnett a 1-0 lead.

Martinez's final line was impressive: seven innings, one run on five hits, seven strikeouts, and one walk. Loe was equally dominating: 7 1/3 innings, one run on six hits, two strikeouts, no walks. The one run Loe did surrender came in the eighth inning when Justin Toole plated a run with an RBI single to left.

The Clippers squandered a golden opportunity in the bottom of the ninth. Ezequiel Carrera led off the inning with a walk. That was followed by a Matt LaPorta walk, putting Carrera in scoring position. After both runners were sacrificed over by Juan Diaz and Matt Carson was intentionally walked to load the bases, Chun Chen grounded into a 3-2-3 double play as the game went off to extra innings.

An inning later, Columbus had another runner standing on second. Tim Fedroff fouled out to the left fielder Gartrell for the second out. Following an intentional walk to Ryan Rohlinger, Ezequiel Carrera grounded out to second to end the Clippers threat.

In the eleventh, the Clippers caught a big break when Braves centerfielder Jose Constanza dropped a fly ball. Nate Spears advanced to second on the Gwinnett fielding gaffe. After Spears advanced to third on a Juan Diaz groundout to second and intentional walks to Carson and Chen to load the bases, Roberto Perez struck out swinging. That left it up to Toole, who hit an RBI single back up the middle for the game winner. Preston Guilmet (W, 5-4) got the win for Columbus. Joe Bisenius (L, 3-7) took the loss for Gwinnett.

The Clippers will hit the road as they head own to Louisville Slugger Field. Columbus will send righty Paulo Espino (4-4, 3.83) to the hill. The Bats will counter with right-hander Kanekoa Texeira (0-0, 3.18). First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM.