Bats drop Clippers 4-2

The Bats were able to squeak out four runs on key infield hits while the Clippers had trouble stringing at-bats together offensively in a 4-2 Louisville win.

The Bats struck first in the top of the second. Chris Valaika walked to lead off the inning. After a Michael Griffin strikeout and Kristopher Negron walk, Dave Sappelt laced a double down the right field line that allowed Valaika to score. Negron would come in on the same play when Clippers right fielder Jordan Brown overthrew shortstop Luis Valbuena when getting the ball back into the infield, leading to an early 2-0 Bats lead. Louisville extended their lead to 4-0 in the top of the fourth inning over the Clippers when Valaika scored on a Michael Griffin RBI triple. Griffin later came around to score on RBI groundout by Negron.

The Clippers would cut into the Bats lead in the bottom of the third when Valbuena scored on a Wes Hodges RBI groundout. Columbus would then score another run this time in the 4th when Head slid into home safely after Bats third baseman Todd Frazier tried to get Head out at home by fielding a Paul Phillips nubber up the third base line.

The rest of the night Columbus had trouble getting anything going offensively as they only managed one hit after the fourth inning. Chad Reineke got his 3rd win on the season for Louisville. The loser was Clipper left-hander Scott Barnes, who made his first Triple-A start.

The same teams will meet Wednesday at 6:35pm with Alex White facing Dontrelle Willis.