For the second time in their series, the Columbus Clippers and the St. Paul Saints had a doubleheader scheduled only to play one seven-inning game and have the second rained out. On Thursday, the Clippers got back on the winning side with a 5-2 victory in an early afternoon contest at Huntington Park before the skies opened.

The second game will be part of a twin bill now scheduled for Friday beginning at 5:05 p.m. The nightcap has now been postponed three times. It started as a game against the Saints in Columbus April 5. It was supposed to be second game on Tuesday and again Thursday. Will Friday do the trick?

In Thursday’s battle, the Clippers improved both their offensive and defensive efforts as they looked to turn around a tough skid that has seen them lose eight of their last nine games. It looked bad for Columbus at the beginning of the contest. Starter Will Dion (1-2) gave up two runs to the Saints in the top of the first inning.

That was all of the runs that Dion or the Clippers would give up. Their offense responded quickly with three runs in the bottom of first. They scored single runs in the second and fifth innings to cement the win that went seven innings in anticipation of a second game – the one that has become a challenge to play.

Cody Huff paced the Clippers with two runs batted in. Will Brennan had three hits and a run scored. And in his second Triple-A game, C.J. Kayfus posted the only extra-base hit for the Clips, a double in the fifth inning. Johnathan Rodriguez and Milan Tolentino also recorded RBIs on the afternoon.

Dion ended up going five innings to earn the win, giving up the two runs in the first. He ended up allowing six hits and striking out four. Luis Frías tossed the final two innings and did not allow a run on only one hit. He picked up his first save of the season. In his eight relief appearances this season, Frías has an ERA of 1.86.

Again, the teams will play a doubleheader Friday beginning at 5:05 p.m.