Pawtucket escapes with 3-2 win

Defensive miscues and coming up short offensively came back to haunt the Clippers as they lost to Pawtucket 3-2 at Huntington Park. 

The Paw Sox were the first to crack the scoreboard with a Dan Butler RBI single in the top of the fourth. Jackie Bradley Jr. then doubled that lead with a massive solo blast that cleared the right center field wall situated just to the right of the batter's eye in center.

While the Red Sox scored some runs, Columbus continued to struggle offensively. A day after being shut out, the Clippers were held to one hit through the first five innings by Pawtucket lefty Chris Hernandez.

That would change in the bottom of the sixth. Cord Phelps broke the long scoreless drought with an RBI single up the middle. Columbus would load the bases later in the inning. Tim Fedroff tied the game at 2-2 with an RBI sacrifice fly to right field. The Clippers loaded the bases again with a walk by Juan Diaz, but Matt Lawson struck out swinging to end the frame.

In the top of the ninth, the Red Sox took advantage of three errors by the Clippers' defense. First, Drew Sutton reached on a ball that skipped off the glove of Clippers third baseman Matt Lawson. Columbus then had a chance for a force-out at second, but Phelps dropped the baseball. Juan Diaz then threw wild at first on another groundball, allowing Mitch Maier to score and give Pawtucket a 3-2 advantage.

The Clippers had one last chance to do right with the bats in the bottom of the ninth. With runners on first and third and nobody out, Matt Carson sent a grounder out in the front of the mound. Omir Santos broke for home from third on the play. He would later be tagged out in a rundown for the first out. After a Jeremy Hermida strikeout, Cord Phelps walked to load the bases with two out. Unfortunately, Chun Chen struk out swinging to end the game.

Jose De La Torre (W, 3-1) got the win for Pawtucket. Preston Guilmet (L, 2-4) was hit with the loss for Columbus. Anthony Carter (S, 10) nailed down the save for the Red Sox in the ninth.

Columbus will renew acquaintances with Pawtucket on Wednesday night. The Clippers will send righty Trevor Bauer (3-2, 3.84) to the hill. The Red Sox will counter with right-hander Terry Doyle (4-5, 5.16). First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM.