Clippers sweep Indians in twinbill
INDIANAPOLIS, IN- The Columbus Clippers (52-46) swept the Indianapolis Indians (53-45) in a doubleheader Saturday with a 4-3 win in game one and a 2-1 win in game two. Kyle Davies had a no-hitter against the Indians through five innings, but got into trouble before the Clippers rallied in game one. In game two a pair of solo homers and solid pitching did the job for Columbus.
Davies (5-7, 3.94 ERA) pitched well in the win. He went six innings and allowed three runs on four hits with one walk and six strikeouts. Andy Oliver (1-2, 2.15 ERA) blew the save after allowing the Clippers to score twice in the seventh. It was Oliver's first blown save. Mark Lowe nailed down the win for his 13th save.
Former Clipper Rafael Perez (0-0, 1.50 ERA) pitched well in the loss and took no decision. He went six innings and allowed a pair of runs, one unearned, on seven hits with two walks and two strikeouts.
Columbus struck first in game one. Tyler Holt reached ahead of Elliot Johnson who scored Holt on a clutch two-out single and gave Columbus a 1-0 lead.
The Clippers scored again in the fifth thanks to small ball. A lead-off single by Jose Ramirez and error had a man in scoring position with no outs. A sacrifice bunt by Holt got Ramirez to third with one out. After the Indians pitched around Jesus Aguilar a sacrifice fly by Audy Ciriaco made it a 2-0 Columbus lead.
The Indians didn't have a hit until the sixth inning when they rallied. Indy got doubles by Chase d'Arnaud, Chris McGuiness and Brett Morel to tie the game and took the lead on a Tony Sanchez single.
Columbus retook the lead thanks to solid baserunning. A lead-off single by Ramirez, steal of second and walk by Holt had two on for the Clippers' IL All-Star Aguilar. The home run derby participant took a home run cut, but flew out to right. Ciriaco then laced a two-run double and gave the lead back to Columbus.
It was a bullpen game for game two and Josh Outman (1-1, 6.75 ERA) picked up the win. Jorge Ramos (0-1, 3.55 ERA) took the loss. Tyler Sturdevant closed out the seventh for his first save.
Matt Carson crushed a homer to left and gave the Clippers a 1-0 lead in the second inning of game two. Chris Wallace homered to start the third on a bomb to left, his first.
The final game of the first half ends the series against the Indians in Indianapolis Sunday. Tyler Cloyd (6-5, 4.26 ERA) will start against Casey Sadler (8-1, 2.36 ERA) and the Indians at 1:35 p.m.