Clippers walk off on Rohlinger single
The Columbus Clippers (8-11) 5-4 the Gwinnett Braves (12-8) Thursday night in a walk-off win in the 11th inning. Ryan Rohlinger played hero scoring Roberto Perez on a single to left.
Austin Adams (1-1, 5.91 ERA) got the win pitching a perfect top of the 11th for the Clippers with a strikeout. For the G-Braves Andrew Russell (0-1, 8.10 ERA) took the loss allowing two hits, a walk and the game-ending run in the eleventh.
The starters could only watch the late-inning fun as their influence on the game was over before the seventh. Tyler Cloyd (1-2, 7.59 ERA) struggled for the Clippers as he allowed four runs on 11 hits in four and one-third innings. Gavin Floyd (0-1, 3.77 ERA) was decent lasting five and one-third innings and allowed two runs on five hits with three walks and one strikeout.
Columbus got solid pitching from its bullpen, which did not allow a run in six and two-thirds innings pitched between Mike Zagurski, Frank Herrmann, Nick Hagadone and Adams.
The G-Braves scored one and the Clippers responded with one run in both the second and third innings. In the fourth Gwinnett scored two to make it 4-2.
With the game 4-2 in the seventh Perez drew a lead-off walk in the Clippers' half of the inning. After Perez aggressively went first to third on an Audy Ciriaco groundout to third Jose Ramirez came up. Ramirez hit a slow roller in front of home plate and beat out a throw to first to make it 4-3 Gwinnett.
In the eighth the first man up was Nyjer Morgan. The man who also goes by Tony Plush sent the first pitch he saw over the right field wall to tie the game at four.
After stranding four runners in the ninth and 10th innings on three hits and two walks, Perez singled to start the Columbus half of the 11th. On a missed sign Perez took off expecting to be sacrificed to second by Ciriaco, but stole second anyways. After Ciriaco foul-tipped a bunt for strike three and a Ramirez intentional walk it was up to Rohlinger. He hit a single to right and Perez was waved aroud third and beat the throw to the plate for the Columbus win.
Ramirez extended his season-long on base streak with his single in the seventh and Perez extended his hit streak to a team-high twelve. It is a season-long streak for him.
The series wraps up Friday with righty Josh Tomlin (0-1, 4.00 ERA) getting the start for Columbus. Gwinnett will counter with righty Zach Stewart (1-0, 5.06 ERA). The series finale is scheduled for a 7:15 p.m. first pitch.