Indians Drop Fourth Straight with Loss to Columbus

INDIANAPOLIS - The Indians scored four runs on 12 hits, while Erich Weiss and Jason Rogers tallied three hits apiece, but the Tribe lost, 8-4, at Victory Field Saturday evening. Tribe pitchers surrendered eight runs to the Columbus Clippers for the second night in a row.

With the win, Columbus (30-31) pulled within two games of Indianapolis (32-29) for first place in the IL West division.
The Indians cut the Clippers' lead to one after a two-run bottom of the fourth. Barrett Barnes hit a sac fly that scored Rogers, and Gift Ngoepe followed with an RBI double that pushed across Weiss.
Columbus answered in the top of the fifth scoring two runs after a sac fly from Nellie Rodriguez and an RBI single from Abraham Almonte, increasing their lead to 6-3. The Clippers would score one run in both the seventh and eighth innings, putting the game out of reach.
Indians starter Clay Holmes struggled to get out of the first inning and surrendered four runs on five hits in just 0.2 inning. It was the first loss for Holmes since April 20 against Durham.
Julian Merryweather recorded the win for the Clippers after 7.0 innings of work, where he allowed four runs on 11 hits.
The Indians loss is their fourth straight, and also their fourth loss to the Clippers at The Vic this season.
Tomorrow, the Tribe will look to split the series against Columbus at Victory Field. Indianapolis will send righty-hander Tyler Eppler (4-2, 2.30) to the mound, opposite righty Mike Clevinger (3-1, 1.50). First pitch is set for 1:35 p.m.