New city, same result. The Columbus Clippers played a second doubleheader in three days as they traveled to Toledo to face the Mud Hens. Game one ended the same way that five of the Clippers previous games had, in a shutout. Columbus pulled out a 1-0 victory. Game two was tending toward a shutout as both teams were hitless through 4 1/2 innings before Toledo went on to a 3-2 victory.

An unearned run in the top of the sixth inning was the only score the Clippers would need in their victory in Game 1. Michael Martinez led-off with a walk and took third on a throwing error by third baseman Jefry Marte. A Francisco Lindor single to left field scored Martinez. The Lindor single was the Clippers only hit in game one.

Kyle Ryan was the hard luck loser for Toledo as he pitched six innings and struck out four while walking one in the outing. Clippers starter Toru Murata gave up all four Toledo hits in his four innings of work. Ryan Webb and Shawn Armstrong pitched three hitless innings with Webb earning the win and Armstrong recording his third save of the season.

Columbus grabbed a 1-0 lead in the top of the sixth inning in game two of the seven inning doubleheader. Alex Lavisky singled and was sacrificed to second on a Francisco Lindor bunt. Lavisky came around to score on Tyler Holt’s single to center.

Toledo tied the game 1-1 in the bottom of the sixth inning on a one-out double off the bat of Dixon Machado that scored pinch-runner Daniel Fields. The Clippers came right back in the seventh to take a 2-1 lead on a Michael Martinez triple that scored Carlos Moncrief. He had walked to open the inning.

Jeff Manship was unable to hold the lead for Columbus in the bottom of the seventh inning. Mike Hessman tied the game 2-2 with a lead-off homer and Machado won it with a two-out single.

Alberto Cabrera was the winner for the Mud Hens and Manship was tagged with the loss.

Both teams showed some offense in the rubber game of the series as Toledo outscored Columbus 7-5. The Clippers got on the board first, scoring a pair of runs in the top of the first inning on a James Ramsey double followed by a Jesus Aguilar homerun, his first of the season.

Toledo answered in the bottom of the inning, Daniel Fields scored on Tyler Collins sacrifice fly.

Columbus came right back in the top of the second inning to take a 3-1 lead on Ryan Rohlinger’s first homer of the season.

The Mud Hens put up four runs in the bottom of the fourth inning as they banged out six hits, two of which were triples, two more were doubles, and the final two singles, to take a 5-3 lead.

Each team added a pair of runs in the final innings of the game, yet Toledo held on for the win.

Thad Weber won his second game of the young season for Toledo and Alex Wilson got his third save.  Toledo pitchers had 12 strikeouts in the game. Nick Maronde took the loss for the Clippers.

A scheduling quirk has these two teams meeting for a two game set in Columbus as the Clippers open the home portion of the season on April 18th and 19th.

By Mike Tanchevski