The five games between the Columbus Clippers and Indianapolis Indians at Victory Field have all been close this week. The last four, including Saturday’s game, have been decided by one run. On Saturday, the only offense for either team was Milan Tolentino’s solo blast in the fourth inning to give the Clippers a 1-0 win.

The much bigger part of the story was the outstanding pitching by each team. Left-hander Parker Messick (2-1) got the start for Columbus and earned his second win of the season, going five scoreless innings and allowing only four hits while striking out nine.

Messick has started seven games so far this season, the 24-year-old’s first Triple-A experience. In those performances, he’s had only one game that got away, a loss to Lehigh Valley in April. Since then, he has started three games, going 15.1 innings. In those starts, Messick has allowed only two runs on eight hits and has struck out 26. 

On Saturday, the Columbus bullpen combined for four relief innings to help the Clips post the shutout, the team’s second of the season. Andrew Walter and Franco Aleman each tossed a hitless inning. Zak Kent threw the final two innings, allowing two hits and striking out three to pick up his first save of the season.

In addition to Tolentino’s heroics, three Clippers, Johnathan Rodriguez, Will Brennan, and C.J. Kayfus, had two hits on the day. All three have been consistent in their offensive output for Columbus this season, with Rodriguez hitting .333, Brennan .308, and Kayfus .303.

The Clippers and Indians conclude their six-game series with an afternoon contest Sunday. The first pitch in Indianapolis is slated for 1:35 p.m. Slade Cecconi (0-1, 6.14) will be on the mound for Columbus in his third rehab start since joining the team last week. Cecconi will face Mike Burrows (1-1, 3.18).