Clip Joint Gem

Zach McAllister

Yeah, midterms are a killer, so let's catch up with the Clippers.  After losing both of a two game set to Toledo on Tuesday and Wednesday, the Clips responded with a 4-1 win over Pawtucket last night.  Zach McAllister (2-1, 3.00) was dominant over 7 innings, allowing just one earned (a solo homer) on three base hits.  He retired the side in order five times, struck out three and did not issue a walk.  I was at the game last night and PawSox were simply not making much good contact.  Just 8 balls left the infield in McAllister's seven innings.  Frank Herrmann (3.86) and Chris Ray (2.38, 4 SV) worked a clean inning apiece to close out the victory.

Matt LaPorta (.371) was the offensive hero with an RBI single and a two-run homer (his 6th, 16 RBI) in the 7th to supply some insurance.  LaPorta, who has always just killed it at Huntington Park, is batting .409 with ALL of his homers and RBI at home.  4 of his five doubles have also come in Columbus, where his OPS is a staggering 1.347.  Matty's Hyde side showed as well when he offered meekly at a 5th inning breaking ball that dove low and away.  I'll note this again, for the sake of emphasis, Matt LaPorta can not hit a curveball... or a slider.  If any of y'all would care to start sacrificing live chickens, get on it.

Russ Canzler (.250), Beau Mills (.310) and Luke Carlin (.458) all also had two hits.  Carlin, who also had the other Columbus ribee yesterday, is 6-for-10 with 4 RBI and 3 walks since coming off of the disabled list.  Trevor Crowe (.345) is headed in the opposite direction.  After a red hot start that has his average sitting at .404, the former first rounder is just one for his last eleven.

David Huff (0-1, 9.00) made his first AAA start of 2012 during the Wednesday matinee and was roundly beaten by the Mud Hens.  He allowed 5 runs (4 earned) on 7 hits in his 4 innings and never seemed to settle in.  Brad Eldred said goodbye to the IL by mashing his minor league best 13th home run (35 RBI) on a ball that bounced off the facing of the Hall of Fame bar in left field, round about the 437 sign.  Nick Hagadone bid adieu as well, with two more scoreless innings.  Nick was not scored on in 7.1 innings, allowing just 4 hits and a walk, fanning 7.

Chris Seddon's Tuesday start was even worse.  A 3rd inning Lonnie Chisenhall error opened the door for six unearned runs as part of the 10 that Seddon allowed overall.  He surrenedered 4 gopher balls (2 of Eldred's 3) among his ten hits in just 3 and 2/3 innings.  One would assume, that with Huff now in the mix, this was Chris' last start.

If they can fight through the rain drops, it's Clippers/PawSox again at 7:05p tonight with Kevin Slowey (1-2, 4.50) on the mound.

Cheers.