Guardians Baseball Insider

Photo credit: Jay Gehres/Courtesy Columbus Clippers

Columbus Clippers 4, Indianapolis Indians 2

The Columbus Clippers (51-38) persisted into a four-game winning streak against the Indianapolis Indians (41-46) on Saturday.

Two Indians walked and created an ominous start to the game for the Clippers. They struck with an RBI single from their third batter, Rodolfo Castro due to a late throw from the Clippers to home plate from left fielder Richie Palacios. Palacios redeemed himself later in the first inning with a great running catch just before the ball hit the bleachers at the left-center field. 

Despite the pitch change to Kirk McCarty in the second inning, the team was held scoreless while Hoy Park homered for the Indians. Clippers loaded the bases after Gabriel Arias singled and both Will Brennan and Bo Naylor walked. Arias scored thanks to an RBI double from Trenton Brooks. Brennan and Will Benson tied the score in the  third inning when Benson was driven in during Brennan’s sacrifice fly. Oscar Mercado’s triple to center field put the Clippers in the lead with a score from Naylor from first base. 

A baserunning error and something else was the downfall of the Indians at the top of the seventh inning. Following two quiet innings, Will Brennan, who has hit .463 against Indianapolis in his career, homered out to left field. With Columbus pitchers Nic Enright and Justin Garza keeping the lead preserved, Indianapolis fell to Columbus. 

Velocity 

LHP Andrew Misiaszek  

1st Inning- 92, 85, 84, 93, 93, 85, 88, 93, 93, 93, 93, 85,93, 85, 84, 92, 86, 93, 85, 85, 85, 89, 85, 85, 93

LHP Kirk McCarty 

2nd inning 77,85,82,89,93, 89, 83, 93, 82, 77, 94, 94, 76, 92, 93, 89, 85, 94, 85

3rd inning 87, 93, 87, 84, 85, 94, 93, 94, 88, 93, 76, 76, 93, 82, 86, 83, 76, 83, 92, 89, 77

4th inning-86, 92, 87, 84, 93, 93, 76, 83, 93, 77, 93

5th inning- 92, 92, 82, 74, 93, 87, 93, 85, 

LHP Tim Herrin 

5th inning- 97, 97, 98 

6th inning- 87, 98, 89, 98, 90, 90, 88, 97, 87, 89, 97, 90, 96, 90, 98

7th inning-88, 87, 95,96, 89, 89, 83, 90, 89, 98, 98

RHP Nic Enright 

8th inning- 92, 93, 86, 93, 76, 83, 95, 94, 93, 85, 85, 94, 94, 94, 83, 86

RHP Justin Garza

9th inning – 82, 95, 83, 90, 95, 91, 82, 95, 90, 83

Columbus Relievers Pick Up The Slack

The Clippers have allowed at least one home run per game this year, and Saturday was not any different. However, Columbus pitchers came out strong despite one of their stronger players, Tanner Tully, being sent up to the major league. The game was Andrew Misiaszek’s second career start. He walked the first two batters he faced. He tried to undo his mistake with a pitch to first base but it was to no avail. It was no surprise that there was an early pitch change to Kirk McCarty at the top of the second inning. He was changed out 62 pitches later for Tim Herrin at the top of the fifth inning.  Herrin and the relievers Justin Garza and Nic Enright held Indianapolis scoreless for seven innings straight. Left-handed hurler Zack Matson had faced the Clippers three times in his career prior to Saturday. Clippers beat the odds as they were 6-11 against left handers this year.