Red Wings defeat Clippers, 7-5

The Rochester Red Wings won a back-and-forth battle over the Columbus Clippers, 7-5 on Tuesday night at Huntington Park in front of 8,489 to begin an eight game home stand. The loss was only the second in the last 10 home games for Columbus.

The Red Wings were outhit in the game, 15-10, but were able to convert their hits into runs all night. After a perfect first inning, Aaron Laffey gave up an RBI double to Brock Peterson and then Toby Gardenhire flared a single into right field, driving in Peterson completing the two run second.

The Clippers left four runners on base in the first three innings without scoring, and with two more runners on in the fourth inning, Josh Rodriguez ended that streak driving in Wes Hodges on an RBI double. Michael Brantley followed suit with a two-out, two run single capping a three run inning for Columbus.

The Red Wings tied the game up in the fifth with an RBI sacrifice fly from Brian Dinkelman, scoring Matt Macri. Laffey's night was finished after the fifth, giving up three runs on four hits while walking three and striking out two. Rochester took the lead in the sixth when Macri drove home Jose Morales on an RBI double to center off of Justin Germano.

In the bottom of the sixth inning, Brian Buscher hit his second triple of the year and Rodriguez drove him in, his second RBI on the night, with a single off the right field wall, tying the game at four.

The roller coaster game continued in the top of the seventh as Dinkelman drove in his second run of the game with a line drive single into right field, as Jason Repko scored the go-ahead run, giving the Red Wings a 5-4 lead. Gardenhire drove in the sixth run of the night for Rochester on a 6-3 groundout in the eighth inning off of Jeremy Sowers and Peterson capped the scoring in the ninth with his ninth home run of the season.

Carlos Santana hit his twelfth home run of the season in the seventh and Michael Brantley had two RBI's and five hits on the night, matching a career best. Brantley also had five hits on May 31, 2007 with the Brewers organization.

The Clippers and Red Wings are back in action tomorrow night for a 7:05 p.m. first pitch. Carlos Carrasco (4-2, 4.68 ERA) will take the hill for Columbus and will battle Rochester's Ryan Mullins (3-4, 4.83 ERA).