Civale's rehab start spurs Clippers
Friday, May 19, 2023
By Logan Morris
lmorris@cbussports.com
Cleveland Guardians’ starter Aaron Civale threw 35 pitches on a rehab assignment for the Columbus Clippers at Huntington Park Thursday during the Clippers’ 2-1 win. Photo: Kevin Rouch
On a night when Cleveland Guardians’ starting pitcher Aaron Civale began a rehab assignment, a vintage performance by Civale set the tone for a game of solid pitching and defense as the Columbus Clippers beat the St. Paul Saints 2-1 Thursday night at Huntington Park.
Efficiency was the name of the game for Civale as he went three innings and allowed just two hits, striking out four, all while throwing just 35 pitches. The organization had set an upper limit of 50 pitches for the righthander, but apparently they saw what they needed to see. The Saints hitters looked completely off balance as Civale dominated with his slider looking unhittable from the outset.
Reliever Dennis Norris would take it from there and become the unsung hero for the Clippers, earning his first win of the season. He pitched five innings after Civale left the ballgame, giving up five hits and just one unearned run. Clippers center fielder Chris Roller would be the lone standout offensively with a two-run RBI double in the second inning
Clippers second baseman Raynel Delgado turns the double play ahead of the slide of the Saints’ Eduardo Julien. Photo: Kevin Rouch
Norris’s outing would prove to be invaluable as the Clippers’ offense was able to muster just four hits. In just his fifth career game in Triple-A, St. Paul Saints left-handed starting pitcher Brent Headrick went six innings and struck out seven while allowing four hits and two runs. Headrick suffered his first loss of the season. The win Thursday night brings Columbus’s record against lefthanders to 7-4.
The Clippers’ Touki Toussaint would earn his second save of the campaign but it wouldn’t be without drama. A one-out double by Saints’ second baseman Edouard Julien would create some tension among the faithful, but Toussaint was able to slam the door by striking out Saints left fielder Matt Wallner.
The Clippers (19-21) continue their effort to get back to .500 Friday night with the third game of the series with the Saints. The first pitch at Huntington Park is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.