Clippers streak halted in 10-3 loss to Lehigh Valley

There is a saying that all good things must come to an end. That was the story as the Clippers dropped a home contest to Lehigh Valley 10-3, snapping a 13 game winning streak for the Clippers.

Columbus starter Corey Kluber did not get off to the swiftest of starts. The Iron Pigs quickly got on the board in 1st inning when Dominic Brown knocked in Rich Thompson with to give Lehigh Valley an early 1-0 lead. After Brown stole second, the next batter, Ronnie Belliard, singled to bring home Brown. On the play, Belliard was able to advance all the way to third after an errant throw from Clippers first baseman Chad Huffman. Huffman was trying to throw to second when Belliard tried to advance to second after the throw back into the infield, but his throw ended up in left field. Belliard would then be the third Iron Pig run of the inning when he came in on a Delwyn Young RBI groundout to first base. Kluber was able to strike out Iron Pigs left fielder Brandon Moss to end the inning, but the damage was done as Lehigh Valley staked itself to an early 3-0 lead.

The Iron Pigs were looking for more in the top of the second. Lehigh Valley had runners on first and third with two outs. Dominic Brown the top prospect in the Philadelphia Phillies farm system, hit a bullet to the right side of the infield, but Clipper second baseman Jason Kipnis made a diving stop and tremendous throw to get Brown at first to end the inning.

The bats would come alive for Columbus in the bottom of the third. After Clippers catcher Luke Carlin was hit by a pitch, Luis Valbuena lined a hit down the right field line that he turned into an RBI triple. Soon after that, Valbuena came in to score on an Ezequiel Carrera RBI groundout to first to make it 3-2 in favor of the Iron Pigs after three innings.

The next inning the Clippers were looking to some more damage on offense. Lonnie Chisenhall led off the bottom of the fourth with a walk. Chad Huffman followed with single up the middle. The next batter, Travis Buck, grounded into a double play. With a runner on third with two out, Jason Kipnis struck out to end the Clippers threat.

In the top of the fifth, Lehigh Valley again threatened on offense. After Kevin Frandsen single and Dominic Brown was hit by a pitch to begin the inning, Kluber got Ronnie Belliard to pop out in foul ground and Delwyn Young to fly out to center field. Jeff Larish walked to load the bases and that brought Brandon Moss to the plate. Moss went on to deposit a 1-2 pitch from Kluber over the right field wall for a grand slam to give Lehigh Valley a commanding 7-2 lead. Kluber would be pulled after the inning. He pitched five innings, giving up seven runs, six earned on six hits while striking out three and walking four.

In the bottom of the 5th, Cord Phelps scored on a Luis Valbuena RBI double to make it 7-3 in favor of Lehigh Valley. In the bottom of the 7th, the Clippers did not take advantage of a great offensive opportunity. Travis Buck led off the inning with a walk. The next batter, Jason Kipnis, singled up the middle. After strikeouts by Cord Phelps and Luke Carlin, Luis Valbuena struck out with runners on second and third to end the Clippers threat. The eighth inning proved to be another opportunity for a Clippers rally. Carrera and Donald walked to start the inning. Lonnie Chisenhall then crushed a base hit that went off the centerfield wall for a long single. But Huffman, Buck, and Kipnis all struck out to end that scoring chance.

Kluber was hit with the loss. His record drops to 0-3. Iron Pig right hander Drew Carpenter (2-0) got the win for Lehigh Valley. The Clippers hook up with the Iron Pigs tomorrow night. Nate Bump will go to the hill for Lehigh Valley. He will oppose Clippers right-hander Joe Martinez. First pitch is at 7:05 pm.