Clippers Take Series Over Toledo

The Columbus Clippers took down the Toledo Mud Hens, 6-5, today at Huntington Park behind a big day from first baseman Nellie Rodríguez.
With a pair of big doubles, Rodriguez helped secure the 3-1 series victory for Columbus.

The Mud Hens struck first against Clippers' starter Michael Peoples, putting up three runs in the top of the first inning with a Mike Gerber three-run shot. Peoples exited the game due to some discomfort after that, leaving Luke Eubank to register the final out.
The Clippers rebounded in the home half of the first, courtesy of Brandon Barnes, who drilled an RBI double off the wall in right field off Tyler Alexander.
Ahead 3-1, Toledo added another run in the second. With a man on, Dawel Lugo flopped a single onto the outfield grass, scoring one to make it 4-1.
The Clippers responded once more in the bottom of the second, this time from Rodriguez. With two on, he delivered with a double to left, scoring the newly acquired Melky Cabrera to bring Columbus closer at 4-2. The next batter, Todd Hankins scored the second Clippers' run of the inning with a sacrifice fly to right, making it 4-3.
Neither team scored until the sixth, when Columbus tied things at 4-4. With runners on the corners, pinch-hitter Adam Rosales grounded softly to second, bringing in Eric Haase from third for the RBI. Though the Mud Hens ended the inning by registering two outs on the play, the run scored due to there being a tag play at second after Rosales was forced out at first.
Still square at 4-4 with two outs in the eighth, Rodriguez came to the plate and drove a two-run double to left off Mud Hens' reliever Drew VerHagen to provide the Clippers with a 6-4 advantage.
Jon Edwards, who had pitched a scoreless eighth, came back out and allowed one run in the ninth on a Lugo groundout. Up 6-5, Ben Taylor relieved Edwards and shut things down to secure the series victory.
The Clippers will travel to Indianapolis to take on the Indians tomorrow at 7:15 p.m.