The Columbus Clippers were forced to play catch-up in their game at Indianapolis Thursday. Indian designated hitter D.J. Stewart hit a two-out grand slam in the third inning to put his team ahead 4-0. The Clippers rallied but came up one short, falling 4-3 at Victory Field.

When the dust settled, it really was just one inning that did Columbus in. In the third, Clippers starter Doug Nikhazy (1-2) walked Nick Solak to lead off the inning. Nikhazy then got two outs at which point he was replaced with reliever Mason Hickman. Hickman walked the first two batters he faced before giving up Stewart’s home run.

Columbus got a run in the fourth when Kody Huff doubled to drive in Micah Pries who had walked to lead off the inning. The Clips added two in the fifth. C.J. Kayfus tripled to knock in a run, then came home on Will Brennan’s single. Columbus loaded the bases in the top of the ninth with two outs but couldn’t get the tying run in.

Nikhazy took the loss, while Drake Fellows (3-0) earned the win for Indianapolis. Eddy Yean worked his way out of the ninth inning jam to pick up his third save of the season. Andrew Misiaszek and Nick Mikolajchak combined to toss three innings of n0-hit, scoreless relief for the Clippers.

The Indians are up two games to one in the first half of the scheduled six-game series with the Clippers. The squads play again on Friday with the first pitch slated for 7:05 p.m. Vince Velasquez (0-0, 6.00) will be on the mound for Columbus and will face Indy lefty Hunter Barco (NR).