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Clippers finish road trip on sour note

Meltdown in ninth costs Columbus a winning road trip
July 25, 2013

Columbus snatched defeat from the jaws of victory as the Bisons scored four runs in the bottom of the ninth to walk-off with a 7-6 victory at Coca-Cola Field.

Columbus got off to a rollicking start in the top of the first. With two outs, Juan Diaz plated two runs with a double. He later scored on a Matt Carson RBI single as the Clippers jumped out to an early 3-0 lead.

Buffalo would tie this game with a two run single by Mike Nickeas and a Kevin Pillar RBI single in the bottom of the second. Columbus then took the lead back in the top of the fourth when Ryan Rohlinger touched home plate after a Jeremy Hermida grounder went right through the wickets of Buffalo second baseman Mike McCoy. The Clippers later padded their advantage in the top of the fifth with a Roberto Perez RBI double and an Ezequiel Carrera RBI single.

On the mound, Carlos Carrasco continued his fine season for Columbus, striking out ten while giving up three runs on four hits in five innings. In addition to four strikeouts by Preston Guilmet, one punch-out by Bryan Price, and one strikeout by Nich Hagadone, Columbus pitchers racked up sixteen strikeouts which set a new 2013 season high.

In the bottom of the ninth, the Bisons staged a rally for the ages. Buffalo plated a run with a Nickeas RBI single. That was followed by a Kevin Pillar RBI sacrifice fly. A wild pitch by Nick Hagadone latter put runners on second and third with one out. Hagadone struck out Ryan Goins for the second out, but Moises Sierra, who had struck out in his previous four at-bats, redeemed himself big time with a game winning two run double off the wall. It capped a four run frame for Buffalo.

Brad Lincoln (W, 3-2) got the win for Buffalo. Hagadone (L, 1-2) was the hard luck loser in this game for Columbus.

The Clippers will come back home to Huntington Park to begin a four game series with the Durham Bulls on Friday night. The starters on the mound for both teams have yet to be determined. First pitch is scheduled for 7:15 PM.