Clippers Shut Down Bats 1-0
A familiar face in Drew Sutton, now residing on Columbus' roster, sparked the Clippers' offense in the bottom of the fourth. Sutton led off the home half of the inning with a line drive double to left field. Columbus first-basemen Wes Hodges laid down an effective sacrifice bunt, moving Sutton 90 feet from home. Matt McBride kept the small-ball going, knocking a fly ball out to center field, allowing the former Bat to trot home.
The single run in the fourth would be all Columbus needed to preserve the game and their lead in the standings. Clippers starting pitcher Paolo Espino put together seven brilliant innings of work on the hill in his third career start at the triple-A level. The right-hander from Panama shut out the Bats, allowing only three hits against arguably the hottest offense in the IL. Espino (1-1, 2.75) struck out eight Louisville batters en route to his first career, victory at the triple-A level.
Despite the defeat, Travis Wood and Matt Maloney had nothing to be ashamed of as the two starters allowed a combined seven hits and one walk. Wood started the contest on the bump for Louisville and threw two solid innings, not allowing a run on three hits. He was sat down to start the third in order preserve a start in the near future with the Cincinnati Reds. Matt Maloney took over and was equally up to the task. Maloney (10-6, 3.43) fell victim to perfectly executed small-ball in the fourth inning, which manufactured the only run he would give up. Unfortunately, that single tally was enough to give the starter his sixth loss of the season.
Columbus' bullpen followed suit of their starter, shutting down each Louisville batter they faced. Bryce Stowell struck out two in the eighth, giving way for Vinnie Pestano to close the game out in the ninth. Pestano (S, 11) struck out Todd Frazier and Wladimir Balentien to start the final frame before getting Danny Dorn to fly out to deep center to end the game.
Louisville will try to bounce back and salvage one game from this important away series against Columbus tomorrow. The Bats will send Cincinnati Reds RHP Aaron Harang (6-7, 5.02*), who will be making a rehab start, to the mound. Columbus' RHP Yohan Pino (8-7, 5.64) will get the call for his club. First pitch for tomorrow's series finale is scheduled for 5:05 p.m.