Clippers win nail-biter over Iowa to open series
Tuesday, May 20, 2025
By Kevin Rouch
krouch@cbussports.com
Columbus Clippers catcher Jake Anchia continued his hot hitting Tuesday with two base knocks, including a double, in the Clippers home win over the Iowa Cubs. Photo: Kevin Rouch
The Columbus Clippers have not had a lot of luck avoiding bad weather during their home stands so far this season. Prior to the opening game of their six-game series with the visiting Iowa Cubs Tuesday, the rains came again. But, just before the contest was set to start, the skies gave way to sunshine. Columbus won a close contest, 3-2.
The Clippers were coming off a difficult two-week road trip that had finished on an uptick with two wins this past weekend. The Cubs were coming off a good week, winning five of seven games against the St. Paul Saints in Des Moines. The successful series moved Iowa up to third in the International League’s West Division.
On Tuesday, the Cubs got the scoring started early. Carlos Pérez blasted a solo shot in the first inning. Jake Anchia tied the game in the fourth inning when he doubled to drive in Johnathan Rodriguez. Anchia is now hitting .429 in four games with Columbus. He was signed to a minor league contract by the Cleveland Guardians prior to spring training, then spent time on the injured list until April 30.
Columbus took the lead in the bottom of the fifth when Lane Thomas brought Yordys Valdes home from third with a sacrifice fly. It was Thomas’s second RBI since joining the Clippers last week on a rehab assignment. He had been unable to play since suffering a wrist injury in Cleveland’s opener this season.
Columbus starter Vince Velasquez earned his first win of the season Tuesday, going six innings and allowing two runs on four hits, while striking out six. Photo: Kevin Rouch
The Cubs tied the game in the sixth with a triple and single to lead off the inning. Columbus responded with a run in the bottom of the inning when Petey Halpin scored from second on a Milan Tolentino single to put the Clippers up, 3-2. Halpin had been thrown out earlier in the game at home on a bang-bang play.
The pitching staffs from both clubs shut things down in the final three innings and Columbus held on for the victory. Vince Velasquez (1-0) picked up his first win of the season, giving up two runs on four hits in his six innings of work.
The Clippers’ bullpen did not allow a hit in the final three innings. Andrew Walter, Zak Kent, who has been up and down with the Guardians three times this season, and Franco Aleman each tossed an inning of scoreless relief. Aleman earned his first save of the campaign.
The teams will be back at it with afternoon games the next two days at Huntington Park. Wednesday’s and Thursday’s games are slated to begin at 12:05 p.m. On Wednesday, Doug Nikhazy (1-3, 4.99) will start for the Clippers and face Iowa’s Connor Noland (4-1, 3.73).
Iowa shortstop Ben Cowles gets ready to tag the Clippers’ Brayan Rocchio, as Rocchio tries to make it to second base in Tuesday’s game at Huntington Park. Photo: Kevin Rouch