Columbus Scores Three in the Eighth to Beat SWB, 5-4

Moosic, Pa. - The Columbus Clippers (Triple-A/Cleveland Indians) raced out to an early lead, but had to rally late to defeat the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (New York Yankees) on Wednesday afternoon, 5-4. The RailRiders lose for just the third time in the past 11 games, as they fall back to the .500 mark at 9-9.

Columbus grabbed the early lead in the second inning. Matt Carson and Cedric Hunter led off with consecutive singles, and Mike McDade followed with a base hit to left field that scored Carson from second base.

Tim Fedroff extended the Clipper lead to 2-0 with a home run to start the third inning.

Scranton/Wilkes-Barre halved the deficit in the fourth inning when Cody Johnson hit a mammoth home run that slammed off of the mountain in right field.

The RailRiders didn't wait long to tie the game in the fifth. Bobby Wilson led off with a double to left-center, and came around to score on Addison Maruszak's single to right field.

Scranton/Wilkes-Barre pushed across two runs in the seventh to go in front. After Corban Joseph walked with one out, Maruszak singled, but was picked off at first. Zoilo Almonte and Dan Johnson followed with walks to load the bases, and David Adams came through with a single up the middle that plated Joseph and Almonte, giving SWB the 4-2 advantage after seven innings of play.

The lead was short lived, as Columbus scored three in the eighth. Ryan Rohlinger led off with a single, and scored when Jeremy Hermida hit a home run to right field to tie the game. Carson followed with a single, and later moved to third after consecutive walks to McDade and Juan Diaz. Cord Phelps then was brought in to hit for Roberto Perez, and pushed a groundball to the first baseman Johnson. His throw to second base retired Diaz, but the ball popped out of the glove of shortstop Gil Velazquez, breaking up the double play and allowing Carson to score the go-ahead run.

Columbus starter Trevor Bauer, one of Cleveland's top prospects, started the game and pitched five innings. He allowed two runs, and struck out eight batters. Jerry Gil (2-0) worked the seventh to get the win.

Scranton/Wilkes-Barre's Ryan Pope started the game, and tossed three and one-third innings, allowing two runs on five hits. Cody Eppley (1-1) began the eighth inning and was handed the loss.

The RailRiders and Clippers will play game three of their series Thursday evening at PNC Field. It's a Budweiser Thirsty Thursday at PNC Field, and gates open at 5:30 p.m. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre will send Chien-Ming Wang (1-0, 0.00) to the mound, while Columbus will counter with Carlos Carrasco (0-0, 0.00). First pitch is slated for 6:35 p.m.

- SWB RailRiders - All Aboard! -