Leo: Clippers spoil Mud Hens opener

The Clippers used solid pitching and aggressive base running to sweep a doubleheader from the Mud Hens Thursday.

Jeanmar Gomez fired seven scoreless innings, allowing eight hits and striking out seven, in a 1-0 Columbus victory in the opener.

The lone Clippers run was provided by the rehabbing Grady Sizemore on a third inning homer. Sizemore finished 1-for-3 with the HR and a strikeout.

Columbus pushed seven runs across in the nightcap, which was plenty for the pitching trio of Joe Martinez, Carlton Smith, and Zach Putnam. Martinez, making a spot start, allowed three runs in three innings and the relievers combined for four scoreless frames.

Chad Huffman earned his first hits of the season, going 2-for-3 with three runs RBI.

Luis Valbuena highlighted the game with a two-run double.

The Clippers and Mud Hens meet again Friday at 7:00pm with Triple-A rookie Alex White facing southpaw Charlie Furbush.