Clippers win see-saw battle with Memphis

Saturday, July 27, 2024
Staff Reports
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Clippers' Kyle Manzardo bats

Columbus first baseman Kyle Manzardo hit a big three-run homer in the sixth inning to propel the Clippers past Memphis 10-8 at Huntington Park on July 27th. File photo

The Columbus Clippers’ offense has seen a slight dip in performance in July, but it has re-emerged in its current home series with Memphis. On Saturday, it went full out in a back-and-forth battle with the Redbirds, winning 10-8.

After giving up two Memphis runs in the first inning, the Clippers bounced back and scored three times in the second. Myles Straw, Estevan Florial, and José Tena each had a run batted in to put the Clips into the lead.

The Redbirds scored single runs in the third and fourth innings, but Columbus tied the game at 4-4 with a run in the bottom of the fourth. Florial singled and drove in Bryan Lavastida, who had singled and stolen second.

Memphis retook the lead with a single run in the top of the sixth, but the Clippers roared back in the bottom of the frame with five runs. Christian Cairo singled to bring home two runners. Later in the inning, Kyle Manzardo hit a three-run blast to put Columbus up 9-5. It was Manzardo’s 14th home run of the season.

The Redbirds weren’t done. They countered with a three-spot in the seventh inning to pull within a run. The Clippers added an insurance run in their half of the seventh when Lavastida hit a solo shot, his eighth homer of the campaign.

Memphis was a problem until the final out was recorded. In the ninth they loaded the bases against Clippers’ reliever Anthony Gose, but he was able to strike out Nick Raposo to end the game and pick up his team-leading 10th save.

The win went to Tanner Burns (3-2), who tossed 1.1 relief innings. Burns gave up three runs but none of them were earned. The loss was charged to Memphis reliever Andre Granillo (2-1).

Columbus and Memphis wind up their series with an afternoon affair Sunday at Huntington Park. The first pitch is scheduled for 1:05 p.m.