Clippers Fall as Bats Walk Off Winners

Columbus had the first game away from Huntington Park of 2014 Thursday, but the home fans were the ones celebrating at the end. A game-winning RBI single by Chris Nelson made it a 6-5 victory for the Louisville Bats beating the Columbus Clippers in the bottom of the ninth. Nick Hagadone came on in the ninth and received the loss, his third of the year. The winning pitcher was Jose "Jumbo" Diaz for the Bats. He allowed a walk and nothing else in the top of the ninth. The Bats improve to 4-2 while the Clippers fall to 1-6.

Neither starter factored into the decision. Josh Tomlin (0-1, 4.50 ERA) went six innings for the Clippers allowing two runs on five hits, striking out three and walking four in the no decision. Josh Smith went five for the Bats allowing two runs on five hits, striking out seven and walking three.

The game started off Louisville's way on a two-out Nelson single scoring Jason Bourgeois to make it 1-0. Columbus responded with a two-run second. A two-out double by Roberto Perez scored Tim Fedroff and Jose Ramirez scored Perez on a single to make it 2-1 Clippers. In the bottom of the second a leadoff homer by Mike Wilson tied the game 2-2.

The score remained tied until the bottom of the seventh when the Bats rallied for two runs with one out and got one more in on a two-out RBI single by Mike Costanzo to make it 5-2 Bats. The next half inning the Clippers got in a run on an RBI single by Fedroff scoring Carlos Moncrief and loading the bases with no outs before rallying for two more. Ryan Rohlinger reached on an error as Costanzo couldn't handle a clean throw at first, scoring the tying run.

With a tied game bottom nine Hagadone allowed a lead-off double to Ruben Gotay. After Gotay was sacrificed to third Nelson ended it with an RBI single beating a drawn in Clippers infield. The hit was the third of the night for Nelson, who also drove in three and drew a walk.

Game two of the series is scheduled for a 6:35 p.m. first pitch in Louisville. Tyler Cloyd (0-1, 14.73 ERA) is the probable starter for Columbus and will face righty Tim Crabbe (1-0, 1.50 ERA) for Louisville.