The Columbus Clippers (30-32) beat the Charlotte Knights (21-42) 5-3 in the Clippers’ first look at the new BB&T Ballpark in Charlotte. The Clippers got some timely hitting with three two-out RBI and only one man stranded with two outs.
J.C. Ramirez (1-0, 3.55 ERA) became the winner after pitching two innings of scoreless ball in relief for Columbus. Dylan Axelrod (2-6, 5.02 ERA) took the loss. He gave up five runs on six hits in six innings with two walks and five strikeouts. Mark Lowe recorded a four-out save for the Clippers, his ninth of the year.
Travis Banwart (3-2, 2.25 ERA) received no decision for his services. He went four innings and allowed one run on four hits with three walks and five strikeouts on 88 pitches. Banwart stranded the bases loaded twice and allowed a homer in the game.
The Clippers started out the scoring with a run in the third. Carlos Moncrief led off the frame with a single. With Moncrief on second after a wild pitch Jose Ramirez singled to score Moncrief.
Charlotte tied the game at one with a solo shot by Blake Tekotte in the bottom of the fourth.
A homer for Columbus gave them the lead back in the fifth. Roberto Perez reached first on a lead-off walk. The next man was Moncrief who went the opposite way and homered to left making it 3-1 Clippers. The homer was his fifth of the season, tied for second on the team with three others.
The Clippers added a pair more on a two-run single by Perez in the sixth and give the Clippers some insurance with a 5-1 lead.
The Knights got two back in the seventh inning. Marcus Semien led off the frame with a single and scored on a Carlos Sanchez double. After a pair of groundouts Sanchez scored to make it a 5-3 game.
The win for Clippers makes Columbus 4-3 on the current 10-game road trip.
Game two of four will be at 2:05 Sunday afternoon in Charlotte. Gabriel Arias (1-2, 3.93 ERA) will get the start for Columbus against Tommy Hanson (3-4, 5.00 ERA) for the Knights.
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