Chisenhall Leads Clippers Over Indy 3-2
With the loss the Indians fall to 0-2 on the season, while the win gives the Clippers a 2-0 record to begin 2011. The loss was the Tribe's sixth straight against Columbus dating back to last season.
After Chisenhall began the season with two RBI in the Clipper's 4-3 victory on Thursday, the switch hitting slugger kept things rolling as he began the scoring with a double that plated CF Ezequiel Carrera, who led off the game with a walk and stolen base. The third baseman then launched the first longball of the season at Victory Field, when he lifted a solo shot to right to leadoff the third and give the Clippers a quick 2-0 advantage.
After Chisenhall propelled the Clippers to the 2-0 lead, Carrera (3-for-4, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 BB) carried Columbus the rest of the way. The Columbus center fielder, who reached base four times and led the Clippers with three base knocks on the night, brought home DH Luis Valbuena with a perfect bunt single in the fourth for what turned out to be the eventual game-winning tally.
The Clippers came away with the victory despite leaving 13 men on base and having 1B Wes Hodges thrown out at the plate twice by Tribe CF Corey Wimberly. Overall, every Columbus batter reached base at least once with seven different individuals drawing a base on balls.
One night after plating all three of their runs in the seventh inning, the Indians mounted another late inning comeback attempt as they put two scores across in the sixth. RF Alex Presley began the sixth inning rally when he roped a one out single, stole second and came around to score on a triple by 2B Chase d'Arnaud.
1B Matt Hague continued the rally with a line drive single to right that plated d'Arnaud and drew the Tribe to with-in one at 3-2. The base knock was one of three on the night for Hague, who finished the night as the only Indianapolis batter with multiple hits.
Columbus starter Jeanmar Gomez (5.2 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 4 SO) earned the victory after allowing just two runs while scattering seven hits over 5.2 innings of work. Indianapolis starter Sean Gallagher (4.0 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 3 SO) suffered the loss after he gave up three runs on seven hits in just four innings of work.
Clippers relievers Joe Martinez (1.1 IP, 2 SO), Josh Judy (1.0 IP, 1 BB, 3 SO) and Jensen Lewis (1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 BB, 1 SO) dominated out of the bullpen as the trio combined to strikeout six over 3.1 scoreless frames of relief, with Martinez and Judy each earning their first holds of the season and Lewis notching his second save. The Tribe bullpen also turned in an excellent effort as LHP Dan Meyer (2.2 IP, 1 H, 3 BB, 2 SO), LHP Daniel Moskos (1.1 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 2 SO) and RHP Chris Leroux (1.0 IP) combined for five innings of scoreless work.
The Indians and Clippers continue their four-game season-opening series on Saturday at 7:05 p.m. RHP Alex White is scheduled to start for Columbus, while LHP Justin Wilson is expected to get the nod for Indianapolis.
The contest will be carried on WNDE 1260 AM, WNDE.com and via iheartradio, a mobile application for iPhone, Blackberry and Android phones, while also being broadcast live on Comcast and Bright House Networks digital channel 81 with Howard Kellman and Scott McCauley on the call. The pre-game show on WNDE begins at 6:45 p.m.
Post-game quotes -- 1B Matt Hague
(on his three-hit night)
"Really I'd rather go 0-for-4 and win the game, but I'm feeling really comfortable at the plate and just trying to help and contribute."
(on playing at the Triple-A level for the first time)
"It's really just older guys, guys with more experience that know what it takes to go up there and play at that level. I think you really just need to take a lot from the older guys and stay with your plan and really focus on what your goal for the game is."
(on how to bounce back from two close losses)
"Really we just learn from it, I think that's all that you can do. There's really no point going back there now and getting all your frustration out. Just learn from it and build on that."