The Columbus Clippers used late heroics to even their series with the Charlotte Knights at one win apiece with a walk-off, 8-4 victory at Huntington Park.
The Columbus Clippers used late heroics to even their series with the Charlotte Knights at one win apiece with a walk-off, 8-4 victory at Huntington Park.
The Clippers hopped on the board in the first inning after Brandon Barnes led off the bottom of the first with a walk. After Mike Papi bunted him to second, Yandy Díaz laced a double into the right-center gap to give Chris Tremie's squad a 1-0 lead.
Charlotte knotted things up in the top of the fourth when they loaded the bases for Matt Skole, who grounded to first scoring one off starter Alexi Ogando. Ogando would be relived after that, having tossed three and one-third innings.
The Knights took the lead in the sixth with runners on the corners and two outs. Mason Robbins deposited a looping single into left-center, grabbing a 2-1 advantage.
Knights starter Donn Roach put together a quietly excellent night, quieting the Columbus bats for just one run on five hits across six innings. He walked one and struck out four.
He was relieved by Ricardo Pinto who was rudely introduced to Clippers first baseman Nellie Rodríguez. With one out in the seventh, Rodriguez cranked a moonshot that stayed fair down the left field line to tie the game at 2-2.
The next three hitters proceeded to reach for Columbus, and with two outs in the seventh Mike Papi singled to right scoring Adam Rosales for a 3-2 lead. Brando Barnes attempted to take home on the hit, as well, but was narrowly thrown out at the plate to end the inning.
Jeff Beliveau came on in the eighth for the Clippers and continued into the ninth when Casey Gillaspie led off with a single. Juan Perez then doubled to score Eddy Alvarez, who pinch-ran for Gillaspie, tying the ballgame at 3-3. The next batter, Jacob May, singled in Perez to provide the Knights with a 4-3 lead.
The Clippers tied it up again in the bottom of the ninth when Rosales led off with a single and was bunted to second by Eric Stamets. Barnes then singled Rosales home to make it 4-4. The Clippers proceeded to load the bases for Richie Shaffer who hammered a walk-off grand slam for the 8-4 victory.
The teams will play the final game of the series tomorrow at 2:05 p.m. at Huntington Park.
