COLUMBUS – The Indianapolis Indians scored four runs over the final three innings but left the tying run at first base as the Clippers held on for a 7-6 win to finish with five wins during a season-opening seven-game road trip.
The Louisville Bats visit Huntington Park Thursday night for the Clippers’ home opener, kicking off a four-game series.
Columbus jumped on Tribe right-hander Drew Hutchison three pitches into Wednesday afternoon’s game when Erik Gonzalez sent his second home run of the season out to left. Ronnie Rodriguez then doubled before scoring on a fielder’s choice throwing error by Max Moroff to the plate. Columbus scored three times in the sixth and another in the seventh to garner a 7-2 advantage.
A run-scoring single by Austin Meadows and sacrifice fly off the bat of Anderson Feliz pulled the Indians back within a single run but Joe Colon closed the books on the comeback attempt by working around a one-out single from Chris Bostick in the ninth.
Ryan Merritt (1-1) got the win for Columbus and Colon notched his second save.