It was a football score at the end of the night, as the Columbus Clippers finally got their bats going Thursday and beat the Omaha Storm Chasers, 14-10. To add another metaphor, it was a rollercoaster ride for both squads. After two losses at Werner Park this week, the Clippers posted their first lead of the series and held on for the victory.

Columbus scored four runs in the second inning to take the early lead. It was the first time that the Clippers had scored four runs in an inning since April 24 at Lehigh Valley. Yordys Valdes and Brayan Rocchio each knocked in runs with singles. Then, C.J. Kayfus brought in two more with a triple.

Columbus added to their lead with a run in the fourth and four in the fifth. Johnathan Rodriguez drove in the fourth inning score with a single. In the fifth, Christian Cairo walked with the bases loaded, a run came home on a wild pitch, Rocchio grounded out to plate a run, and Rodriguez singled to add the fourth run. It was 9-0, Clippers.

Omaha got right back into the game with six runs in the sixth inning, five of them with two outs. The big blow was the second grand slam of the series for shortstop Cam Devanney. The Storm Chasers added single runs in the seventh and eighth innings to cut the Clippers’ lead to one run, 9-8.

Columbus padded that lead in the top of the ninth when Rodriguez posted his third RBI of the game with a single. He now tops the Clippers’ active roster with 18 runs batted in. After that, Milan Tolentino singled to bring two runs home and Dom Nuñez and Valdes each drove in a run with a sacrifice fly.

Just to make it exciting, Omaha scored twice in the bottom of the ninth on a Nick Prato two-run bomb. The boat race took three hours and forty-two minutes to play, featuring 431 total pitches. With 14 runs, the Clippers scored more than their previous six games combined.

Columbus starter Vince Velasquez tossed three scoreless innings, allowing one hit but giving up six walks. Reliever Parker Mushinski (2-2) picked up the win, going two shutout frames with only one baserunner. Starter Luinder Avila (2-2) was charged with the loss, allowing four runs in his three innings of work.

The teams play the fourth game of their six-game series on Friday beginning at 8:05 p.m. EDT. The Clippers will send left-hander Parker Messick (2-1, 2.76) to the mound.