COLUMBUS – On the strength of a six-run first inning, the Clippers beat the Gwinnett Braves, 9-3, Sunday afternoon in the finale of the three-game series at Huntington Park.
The Clippers swept the three-game series and won five games of a six-game home stand.
Braves’ starter Patrick Weigel (3-2) loaded the bases and gave up RBI singles to Richie Shaffer and Eric Stamets to put the Clippers ahead 2-0 before the first out was recorded. Mike Papi lifted a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Chris Colabello, and Ronny Rodriguez crushed a two-out three-run home run to left to make it 6-0.
Columbus pushed the lead to 8-0 in the second as Shaffer socked a two-run homer to deep left off Weigel.
Chris Naverson (1-4) was the beneficiary of all that offense, getting his first win of the season.
The Clipper travel to Louisville for three games with the Bats before returning home to host Toledo for a four-game series starting Thursday night.