Columbus bashes RailRiders 10-4

Fueled by four home runs, the Clippers coasted to an easy 10-4 victory over Scranton/Wilkes Barre at Huntington Park.

Scranton/Wilkes Barre wasted no time getting on the scoreboard by scoring a run in the top of the first on a Ronnier Mustelier RBI single. Dan Johnson then added to the RailRiders lead with a two run shot that landed on the roof of the Wendy's Hamburger Balcony in right.

Down 3-0, Columbus went to work on a rally in the bottom of the first. Tim Fedroff drove home Ezequiel Carrera with an infield single for their first tally of the night. Three batters later, Cord Phelps showed off his prodigious power with a two run shot over the right field wall, making it 3-3 after one inning of play.

The RailRiders took back the lead with an Addison Maruszak RBI single in the top of the second, but the Clippers would respond with a Matt Lawson solo homer that landed in the left field bleachers in the bottom of the fourth.

Columbus then put together a big inning in the bottom of the fifth. Back-to-back solo jacks by Jeremy Hermida and Phelps started the frame. An RBI double by Lawson, an RBI single by Omir Santos and a RBI sacrifice bunt by Carrera all added up to a five run inning as nine batters came to the plate. Juan Diaz would later contribute with an RBI single in the bottom of the eighth.

Trevor Bauer (W, 2-0) picked up the win for Columbus. The young right-hander and top pitching prospect in the Cleveland farm system was not particularly sharp in this game, walking five in six innings of work, but his team picked him up with plenty of run support. Caleb Cotham (L, 0-2) was hit with the loss for the RailRiders.

These two teams will reconvene for baseball activities on Monday night. The Clippers will tab righty Joe Martinez (1-2, 4.53) as their starter on the mound. The RailRiders will give the ball to right-hander Chris Bootcheck (4-0, 3.00). First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM.