Clippers win pitchers' battle with St. Paul
Wednesday, April 2, 2025
Staff Reports
info@cbussports.com
Columbus pitcher Parker Messick made his first Triple-A start in the Clippers’ 2-0 win over the St. Paul Saints Wednesday at Huntington Park. Messick went four innings and allowed only three hits. Photo: John Hulkenberg
In the Columbus Clippers’ first two home games of the season, they did not score a run for 16 innings of play against the St. Paul Saints. The Clips fell, 5-0, in their opener Tuesday. On Wednesday, they finally pushed two runs across in the eighth inning, but that was all they needed as their pitching staff shut the Saints out for a 2-0 victory.
In his first Triple-A start, Parker Messick blanked the Saints for four innings, allowing three hits and two walks and striking out two. He did not figure into the decision. Luis Frías took the mound in the fifth and worked his way out of a bases-loaded no-out jam with a double play and a strikeout.
Zak Kent came on in the sixth and threw two scoreless innings, allowing only one hit and three walks. Kent was followed by Parker Mushinski (1-0), who ended up earning his first win of the season. Mushinski worked the final two innings and allowed only one hit and two walks.
Will Wilson knocked in the Clippers’ second run of the game as they beat St. Paul, 2-0, at Huntington Park Wednesday. Photo: John Hulkenberg
In the eighth, Will Brennan singled to lead off the inning for Columbus. He then went to second on an errant pick-off attempt at first. Juan Brito, looking to move Brennan to third, bunted and ended up at first base with an infield single and Brennan moving to third.
Angel Martínez then knocked Brennan home with a sacrifice fly. After Brito stole second, he came home on Will Wilson’s single. Small ball from the Clippers’ offense, and an outstanding combined pitching effort, produced a 2-0 win.
Columbus and St. Paul are back at it Thursday with a game scheduled for 6:15 p.m. Doug Nikhazy (0-0) will go for the Clippers. He threw five innings in their season-opening win at Toledo last Friday, but did not figure into the decision. Marco Raya will get his first start of the season for the Saints.
Photo: John Hulkenberg