Columbus sneaks past Toledo 4-3

The Clippers won for the 13th time in the last 14 games with a 4-3 victory over Toledo on Tuesday night.

It would be the Mud Hens getting on the board first in the top of the third. Brandon Inge, the Detroit Tigers third baseman who was on a rehab stint with Toledo, blasted a two-out solo home run into the left field bleachers to give Toledo an early 1-0 lead.

The Mud Hens would then tack on another run with some help from poor Clippers defense. After a one out Cale Lorg walk, Omir Santos hit a grounder to Jason Kipnis. Kipnis, wanting to turn a double play, flipped it to second, but the ball ended up in left field as Clippers shortstop Jason Donald was not in a position to receive the ball. The error by Kipnis allowed Lorg to score all the way from 1st to make it 2-0 in favor of Toledo.

Needing to make up some ground on the scoreboard, Jered Head answered the bell with one out in the bottom of the 5th. Head clubbed a solo shot to deep left center field to cut the Mud Hen lead in half to make it a close 2-1 contest.

The very next inning, the Clippers were looking for the lead. The first two batters, Ezequiel Carrera and Jason Donald, singled to start the bottom of the sixth. After Jason Kipnis reached on a fielder's choice, Shelley Duncan gave the Clippers the advantage with a clutch three-run home run to left center field, making it 4-2 in favor of Columbus.

As if one home run was not enough for Brandon Inge, the Mud Hens third baseman,hit his second solo home run in the top of the eighth. It snuck just right inside the left field foul pole and it was back to a one run affair, a 4-3 lead for the Clippers.

The lead ended up standing up as a victory when Josh Judy came on in the ninth and got his 11th save of the season.

Zach McAlister (8-2) was impressive as he went seven innings, allowing two runs, one earned, on one hit while striking out six and walking three. Duane Below (6-4) was victimized by the long ball as all four of the runs he gave up came via a home run.

The Clippers will pack their bags and head to Toledo to once again tangle with the Mud Hens. Clippers right hander Corey Kluber (4-4) will face Mud Hens starter Thad Weber (3-6) in a night contest with the first pitch scheduled for 7:05 pm.