Columbus loses two day, sixteen innings affair

Columbus tried and tried, but could not solve Indianapolis as they lost to the Indians 9-6 in sixteen innings.

With the game beginning in Columbus, Indianapolis jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the first inning on a Felix Pie two run shot off the scoreboard. The Clippers then took advantage of some wildness from Indy lefty Andy Oliver. Oliver walked three batters and hit a batter in his first inning of work. To add insult to injury, Oliver walked in two runs during a frame in which seven batters came to the plate for Columbus.

The Clippers added to their lead in the bottom of the third on a Luis Hernandez RBI sacrifice fly. The Indians made it a 3-3 game thanks to a Brian Bocock solo blast in the fourth.

In the seventh, Columbus broke the tie with a Jeremy Hermida RBI sacrifice fly to left. Former Clipper Jared Goedert hit a solo homer in the top of the ninth to make it 4-4.

From there, the game went into extra innings. After twelve innings, the game was postponed due to rain. The affair was picked up three days later in Indianapolis on Saturday. In the top of the fourteenth inning, Felix Pie started the frame with a triple. He would later score from third on a Boof Bonser wild pitch to give Indy a 5-4 lead.

Because Columbus was still the "home" team, they got the opportunity to bat in the bottom of the thirteenth. Nate Spears got on base on a wild pitch that occurred after he struck out. Spears moved up to second on a Tim Fedroff sacrifice bunt and later scored on an Ezequiel Carrera RBI single to make it a 5-5 affair. Carrera put his speed to good use as he stole third, but as far he would go as the side was retired.

The very next inning, Goedert gave Indianapolis a 6-5 lead with an RBI single in the top of the fifteenth. Again, Columbus had the another chance as they came to bat in the bottom half of the frame. Down to their final out, Ryan Rohlinger tied the game with a solo homer over the left field wall.

For the third straight inning, Indianapolis scored, but this time the Indians put a crooked number on the scoreboard. Jerry Sands helped his team reclaim the lead with an RBI single. That was followed by a Bocock two run homer which made it a 9-6 affair.

Indy righty Brooks Brown (W, 6-4) retired the Clippers in order to put an end to a marathon game that took sixteen innings and two days to complete. Boof Bonser (L, 0-2) took the loss for Columbus.

The Clippers will continue their doubleheader with Indy later tonight. Columbus will go with righty Trevor Bauer (4-2, 4.06) as their starter on the mound. The Indians will tap the talents of righty Brandon Cumpton (4-5, 3.69).