Polar Park in Worcester, Mass. lived up to its name Friday as the Columbus Clippers played the Red Sox in the fourth game of their scheduled six-game series. The temperatures at game time were in the low 40s and worked their way into the 30s before the action ended. The teams played in the snow in the later innings.

The first-place Clippers used timely hitting and great pitching to win, 9-2. Will Brennan has been an effective lead-off hitter for Columbus in the early part of the season and that continued Friday. Brennan connected for a career-high four base knocks and drove in three runs. 

Juan Brito, hitting in the second spot in the Clips’ order, also drove in three runs. He had two hits, including his first home run of the season. The first three hitters in the Columbus lineup all have batting averages over .300 – Brennan (.306), Brito (.326), and Will Wilson (.350). In Friday’s game, Kody Huff added two hits and two RBIs.

The Clippers’ pitching staff had another solid outing against the WooSox. Starter Doug Nikhazy (1-0) picked up his first win of the season, going 5.0 innings and allowing one earned run on four hits and a walk, while striking out eight. Bradley Hanner and Andrew Walters followed with a scoreless inning each.

Nick Mikolajchak closed out the game, blanking Worcester for the final two innings. Neither he nor Walters has allowed a run yet this season in a combined 10.1 innings of relief work in nine appearances.

The teams will meet again Saturday. Game time is set for 4:05 p.m. Lefty Ryan Webb (0-0, 1.08 ERA) will take the hill for the Clippers and face RHP Hunter Dobbins (0-0, 12.27 ERA). Temperatures are expected to be in the 30s.