Thursday, August 22, 2024
Staff Reports
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In the first two games of their series at Huntington Park, the Columbus Clippers and Indianapolis Indians relied on their pitching staffs to keep things close. In Thursday night’s game, it was the offenses’ turn. In a slugfest, with six home runs combined, the Indians won, 9-8, in ten innings.

The game started off with a bang when Indianapolis leadoff hitter, Nick Gonzalez, went deep with his fifth home run of the season. The Clippers responded with three runs in the bottom of the first  on a three-run homer from Gabriel Arias, his second home run in as many games for Columbus.

The Indians added a run in the second inning and three in the fifth. All five runs were charged to Columbus stater Will Dion. the Clippers countered with a run in the sixth on George Valera’s solo home run, his 13th long ball of the season. That made it 5-4, Indians.

The teams exchanged runs in the seventh inning. The Clippers scored their run when Kyle Manzardo singled to drive in Raynel Delgado who had been hit by a pitch earlier in the inning. It was Manzardo’s 45th RBI of the campaign. 6-5, Indianapolis.

In the eighth inning, the Clippers retook the lead, scoring three times. Valera led off the inning with his second round-tripper of the game. Later in the frame, Juan Brito deoubled to drive in two runs. Columbus led, 8-6 going into the ninth.

The Indians managed to score two runs to tie the game. The first came home on a double steal with runners at first and third. Latter in the inning, Nick Yorke singled to drive in Edward Olivares from third. Going to the tenth, things were knotted at 8-8.

Indianapolis put a run across in the top of the tenth inning when Jake Lamb doubled with two outs to drive in the “ghost” runner Henry Davis, who had stolen third base. The Clippers were unable to get their ghost runner across and the Indians held on for the 9-8 victory.

Conner Sadzeck (4-2) picked up the win in relief for the Indians, while Brady Feigl earned his second save of the season. Columbus reliever Erik Sabrowski (8-2) suffered just his second loss.

The teams are back at it Friday with a 7:05 p.m. start time. Triston McKenzie (2-2) will take the hill for the Clippers and will face Thomas Harrington (1-1) for the Indians.