INDIANAPOLIS – Ronny Simon hit a go-ahead double in the bottom of the seventh inning, but the Columbus Clippers rallied for four runs in the top of the eighth and defeated the Indianapolis Indians, 9-6, on Sunday afternoon at Victory Field. The interchanging contest featured two ties and four lead changes.
After the Indians (34-23, 65-67) took a 6-5 lead, a flurry of three consecutive extra-base hits plated the decisive runs for Columbus (28-27, 69-60). Following a single from Milan Tolentino and lineout by Alfonsin Rosario, Dom Nuñez doubled home Tolentino to tie the game. Dayan Frias then hit a two-run homer, his second long ball of the game and Blake Perkins went back-to-back with a solo shot off Beau Burrows (L, 5-3) for a 9-6 score.
The Clippers jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the third inning, with Frias opening the scoring on a solo homer. Kyle Manzardo plated the second run on a groundout and Ralphy Velazquez drove an RBI single to center field for the third run.
Indy mounted a comeback in the fourth inning, bringing four runs across to take the lead. Enmanuel Valdez brought home Duce Gourson with a single, Robert Hassell III had an RBI knock to plate Simon and then Nick Cimillo made the most of an extra opportunity to take the lead. On a foul down the right field line, George Valera went crashing over the wall and into the stands, nearly completing the catch to end the inning. Cimillo then hammered the next pitch into the left center field gap, scoring two to put the Indians on top, 4-3.
The Clippers punched back in the sixth inning with Tolentino clubbing a two-run homer for a 5-4 lead, his 18th of the campaign. A sacrifice fly from Tyler Callihan in the bottom half of the frame knotted the contest.
Thomas Harrington got the start for the Indians and tossed 5.0 innings of three-run ball with six strikeouts. Burrows allowed all four runs in the eighth. Connor Brogdon (W, 2-0) recorded the final out in the seventh inning and Steven Pérez (S, 5) shut down Indy in the ninth to end the game.
Indianapolis has an off day on Monday before beginning a six-game series with the Toledo Mud Hens (Triple-A affiliate of the Detroit Tigers) on Tuesday, Sept. 1 at 6:35 PM ET. Starting pitchers have not yet been named for the series opener.