Indians Walked Off by Clippers in Ninth

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Indianapolis Indians built two leads, including a dramatic rally in the seventh inning, but the Columbus Clippers prevailed 9-8 with a walk-off single by Travis Bazzana in the ninth inning on Thursday night at Huntington Park.

With the Indians (0-6) leading 3-0 thanks in part to a two-run home run by Endy Rodríguez in the first and starter Noah Davis’ and Joe La Sorsa’s combined 5.0 hitless innings, Columbus (5-1) put up four runs in the sixth to take the first of three lead changes in the game’s final four innings.

Indianapolis rallied then in the seventh to retake the lead, 8-4. Following a walk, hit batter and single by Tyler Callihan, Alika Williams drew a six-pitch walk to drive in the first run. One Endy Rodríguez sacrifice fly later, Ronny Simon roped a double off the right-field wall to clear the bases and take the four-run lead.

The Clippers then matched the Indians seven-run seventh with four runs in the eighth and the game-winning score in the ninth, courtesy of a Milan Tolentino RBI double and Petey Halpin two-run home run ahead of Bazzana’s two-out game-winning knock against Brandan Bidois (L, 0-2).

Codi Heuer (W, 1-0) issued a walk in the top of the ninth but earned the win after stranding the base runner. He was just one of two Clipper pitchers who did not surrender a run, with Columbus’ pitching staff surrendering six walks to Indy’s 10.

Rodríguez and Simon finished the contest with a combined seven of Indy’s eight runs driven in.

The Indians will try again for their first victory of 2026 on Friday night at Huntington Park, with first pitch is set for 6:15 PM. Nick Dombkowski (0-0, 11.25) is slated to start for Indy and be opposed by Columbus’ Rorik Maltrud (0-0, 9.00)