Clippers lose heartbreaker to Lehigh Valley in finale
Sunday, April 27, 2025
Staff Reports
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Columbus Clippers starter Parker Messick tossed a gem Sunday against Lehigh Valley. The left-hander went five scoreless innings, allowing just one hit and striking out eight to match his season high. He did not figure into the decision as the Clips fell, 3-2. File photo
After taking the loss in the first game of the Columbus Clippers’ series at Lehigh Valley Tuesday, Parker Messick was back on the mound in the finale Sunday against the IronPigs. The left-hander was outstanding, going five shutout innings and allowing just one hit. He struck out eight to match his season high. Unfortunately, his effort went for naught as the Clippers gave up two runs in the eighth to fall 3-2.
Lehigh Valley won the first four games of the series as the Clippers’ offense struggled to produce runs. That changed Saturday when the Clips responded with an 8-3 win. Petey Halpin and Johnathan Rodriguez were both involved in every inning that Columbus scored.
On Sunday, it was Halpin again pacing the offense. He had half of the Clippers’ six hits on the day, including a double and a triple, and scored both Columbus runs. Yordis Valdes had the only Clipper RBI when he singled in the third inning to drive in Halpin. Halpin scored the Clips other run on a wild pitch in the eighth.
Columbus led twice in the game, 1-0, after scoring in the third inning. The IronPigs tied it in the bottom of the seventh with a solo home run. The Clippers scored a run in the top of the eighth, with Lehigh Valley scoring twice in the bottom of the eighth on another solo shot and a single to drive in the go-ahead run.
Nick Mikolajchak (1-2) took the loss for Columbus. He gave up the IronPigs’ three runs in the seventh and eighth innings. Nic Enright tossed a scoreless sixth inning, working out of a jam after walking the bases loaded. Zak Kent recorded the final out of the game for the Clippers after returning from his MLB debut with Cleveland Wednesday.
The Clippers are back in Columbus for a seven-game series against St. Paul that starts Tuesday with a doubleheader against the Saints. The opener is slated to begin at 5:05 p.m. The nightcap is a makeup of the game that was rained out in St. Paul on April 9. Ryan Webb (1-1, 3.38) will get the start in the first game for Columbus with Vince Velasquez (0-0, 6.00) taking the hill in the second.