Clippers Start Strong, but Bats Start Stronger

The Clippers (2-7) got off to a quick start, but just as they looked to get things off on the right foot the Louisville Bats (5-3) made it a miserable Saturday afternoon for Columbus. The Clippers got off to a 2-0 lead in the first, but starter Brett Brach (0-2, 11.57 ERA) couldn't get out of the first only recording two outs and allowing six earned runs on five hits and taking the loss. Chien-Ming Wang (1-1, 5.40 ERA) got the win going five innings allowing two runs on three hits and striking out a pair as the Bats won 12-4. Wang did walk six, but the Clippers couldn't take advantage other than in the first.

The day looked like it belonged to Columbus early as the Clippers put up a two-run first inning. The Clippers struck first with a couple of walks for Ryan Rohlinger and Jesus Aguilar and RBI singles by David Cooper and Matt Carson made it 2-0 Clippers. That was as good as it would get for Columbus.

Brett Brach got the spot start for Columbus and ran into trouble with the heart of the Louisville order. A one-out walk for Ruben Gotay, Felix Perez single and Chris Nelson RBI single made it 2-1. Matt Costanzo scored Perez on a single to tie the game. After a Mike Wilson strikeout and Thomas Neal single loaded the bases with two outs, catcher Corky Miller unloaded the bases on a double and the day was done for Brach. Toru Murata gave up a single to Kristopher Negron to make it 6-2 Bats.

The Bats also added three more in the third off of Murata. Louisville rallied with two outs getting a Neal single, Miller single and Negron was hit by pitch to load the bases. Jason Bourgeois made it 8-2 on a two-run single and Gotay smacked a double to make it 9-2 Bats.

The Bats added three more in the fifth after Miller led off the inning with a double. He was driven in on a Gotay RBI double and the inning was capped off by a Perez two-run homer. The double for Miller was number 98 for him with the Bats making him the all-time leader in Louisville franchise history for doubles. On the day the 2-4 hitters and Miller did most of the damage going a combined 9-17 with 8 RBI on the game.

The Clippers got the first home run of the season from someone other than Aguilar with a Rohlinger two-run shot in the seventh. Aguilar had his eight game hitting streak broke going 0-3 with a walk.

The Clippers continue their three-city road trip in Indianapolis Sunday at Victory Field against the Indians. The first pitch is scheduled for 1:35 p.m.