Pitching Dominates as Columbus Clippers Split Double-Header
A rain out on Monday night forced the Columbus Clippers and Louisville Bats to play the season’s first doubleheader on Tuesday. With the games reduced to seven inning affairs, neither team could afford to squander scoring opportunities in either contest, especially considering that runs were at a premium as the teams split the series, each winning a game by a score of 1-0. The teams combined for 14 total hits in the two contests.
Columbus entered the series with the International Leagues worst batting average (.154) and best ERA (1.06). This trend continued as Columbus lost game one 1-0, despite outhitting the Bats five to two. Fortunately for Louisville one of their hits was a home run.
The home run came in the bottom of the first inning, a lead-off blast to left field off the bat of shortstop Eugenio Suarez. The Clippers had scoring opportunities in the fifth and seventh innings with runners on with less than two outs but they were unable to advance the runners.
Bruce Chen only allowed one additional base runner, a third inning single to Ivan DeJesus Jr., in six innings of work. Chen struck out three.
Jon Moscot earned the win for the Bats going 5 2/3 innings, allowing three hits, two walks with six strikeouts. Nate Adcock got the save working 2/3 of an inning.
The dearth of offense continued into the second game as both teams struggled to score runs. This time Columbus returned the favor, defeating the Bats 1-0.
The game was scoreless until the top of the fourth inning. Tyler Holt and James Ramsey opened with back-to-back singles. Holt scored from third on a Jesus Aguilar double play ball. That was all the scoring either team could muster.
Five Clippers combined on the four-hit shutout, Dustin Molleken got the win pitching 2/3 of an inning and Shawn Armstrong earned his second save of the season.
David Holmberg lost his second game of this young season, pitching six innings and allowing one run on three hits with two walks and five strikeouts.
Columbus travels to Toledo for a three-game series with the Mud Hens that features a Thursday doubleheader; the Bats visit Indianapolis for a five-game series with the Indians.
Columbus has a record of 3-3 and Louisville is now 2-4. Five of Columbus’ six games have ended in a shutout; the Clippers are 3-2 in those games. In six games played Columbus has scored nine runs and allowed four.
By Mike Tanchevski