Clippers use the bats to beat Louisville

LOUISVILLE, KY- The Columbus Clippers (56-49) beat the Louisville Bats (50-54) 8-5 Tuesday night to get back into a first place tie with Indianapolis. Every Clipper picked up a hit as they racked up 15 in the win.

Kyle Davies (6-7, 4.06 ERA) pitched well enough to win despite a tough start. He lasted six and two-third innings and surrendered four runs on 11 hits with two walks and four strikeouts with all four runs in the second and third innings. Adam Russell (2-2, 4.59 ERA) took the loss after allowing the go-ahead run in the seventh inning. Austin Adams pitched a perfect ninth for his third save.

Josh Smith (9-3, 4.29 ERA) recorded a quality start for Louisville, but didn't factor into the decision. He went six innings and allowed three runs on seven hits with two walks and four strikeouts.

The Clippers struck first in the second. Giovanny Urshela led off the frame with a double and jogged home on an RBI triple by Carlos Moncrief. Despite being at third with no outs Moncrief would not score.

The stranded runner came back to bite the Clippers right away. With two outs in the second Donnie Murphy hit a two-run homer and gave Louisville a 2-1 lead.

The Bats scored a pair more in the third. RBI singles by Felix Perez and Neftali Soto made it 4-1 Louisville.

The Clippers got within one in the fifth. Luke Carlin started the inning with a walk and got to third on a Tyler Holt double. Jesus Aguilar drove in a run with a sacrifice fly and an infield single by Urshela made it a 4-3 Columbus deficit.

The Clippers tied the game and took the lead with a seventh inning rally. Holt hit a one-out single and then stole second. Francisco Lindor picked up his frst Triple-A hit with a single to left. After Lindor got his first steal the Bats intentionally walked Aguilar to load the bases. Urshela was then hit by a fastball in the back to tie the game at four. Carlos Moncrief then singled through the right side to score Lindor and gave the Clippers the lead.

The Clippers turned four doubleplays with Audy Ciriaco at second and new shortstop Lindor, who was moved up from Double-A Akron Monday night.

Game three will feature Tyler Cloyd (8-5, 4.10 ERA) for the Clippers against David Holmberg (0-5, 5.17 ERA) and the Bats. First pitch will be 7:05 p.m. at Louisville Slugger Field Wednesday.