The Clippers won two of four games this weekend, sandwiching single game wins on Friday, 11-4 over Norfolk (box), and Sunday, 4-0 over Syracuse (box), around losses in both ends of a doubleheader on Saturday, 4-0 & 8-1 to Syracuse (box1/box2).
The story of the weekend was outfielder Brandon Watson who managed to extend his hitting streak to 37 games with hits in all four weekend match-ups. Watson established a new Columbus record with a fifth inning single on Sunday. The previous record of 36 games was set by Johnny Rizzo of the Red Birds of the American Association in 1937. Over the 37 games, Watson has batted 342 (51 hits in 149 at-bats) with four doubles and one triple.
Friday’s game was spotlighted by Joel Hanrahan’s first solid start since returning from the diabled list. He picked up his second win of the season going six innings allowing only one run on four hits and three walks while striking out six. Shortstop D’Angelo Jimenez had three and scored four runs while designated hitter Mike Restovich and first baseman Larry Broadway each had a two-run home run.
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Norfolk | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 0 | |
| Columbus | 0 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | X | 11 | 13 | 0 |
W: J. Hanrahan (2-1, 2.12); L: T. Kester (3-6, 6.75) HR: COL: M. Restovich (8), L. Broadway (4)
Jim Magrane pitched the front end of Saturday’s doubleheader taking the loss allowing four runs on five hits in four innings of work. Rehabbing Nationals reliever Luis Ayala pitched the final two innings allowing only a hit and striking out one. The Clippers managed only two hits off of Syracuse starter Ty Taubenheim, a sixth inning double by Watson followed by a single by second baseman Bernie Castro.
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |||
| Syracuse | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | X | 4 | 6 | 1 |
W: T. Taubenheim (3-4, 5.62); L: J. Magrane (0-1, 6.30) HR: SYR: J. Griffin (11)
Starter Edward Valdez couldn’t make it out of the second inning in the nightcap surrendering five runs on seven hits in only 1 2/3 innings of work. Columbus’ only offense was provided by right fielder Abraham Nunez who was 3/3 with a solo home run.
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Syracuse | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 8 | 12 | 0 | |||
| Columbus | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 2 |
W: I. Ramirez (1-4, 5.48); L: E. Valdez (1-3, 4.28) HR: COL: A. Nunez (7)
Sunday featured the return of Clippers pitcher Emiliano Fruto who came back after missing five weeks with elbow soreness. To make room for Fruto, the Clippers sent reliever Dan Kolb to Souble-A Harrisburg. Fruto pitched six shutout innings surrendering only five hits and one walk while striking out seven. Relievers Alex Morales, Arnie Munoz, and Chris Booker combined on the final three innings of two-hit relief striking out three. Third baseman D’Angelo Jimenez had a second inning two-run home run in the victory. Brent Abernathy, Darnell McDonald, and Abraham Nunez each had two hits.
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Syracuse | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | |
| Columbus | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | X | 4 | 9 | 0 |
W: E. Fruto (3-1, 2.51); L: J. Thomson (2-3, 3.67) HR: COL: D. Jimenez (5)
