Clippers Lose to Mud Hens

The Clippers were hoping to gain some momentum heading into the postseason, and wrap-up the International League West Division at the same time, but Toledo had other plans and won their fourth straight on Monday afternoon, 5-2. Coupled with Louisville's win over Indianapolis, Columbus will open the playoffs against the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees, the IL North champs.

The Mud Hens opened the scoring in the second inning, when Robinzon Diaz hit a two-run home run. Columbus answered in the very next inning, when Ezequiel Carrera hit his first long ball as a Clipper, scoring Jose Constanza as well to knot the game at 2.

Toledo broke the tie in the fourth, when Shawn Roof singled off of Columbus starter Corey Kluber, scoring Max Leon. Kluber (1-1) went five innings for the Clippers, allowing three runs off of six hits and four walks. He struck out four.

Columbus didn't register a hit against Toledo starter Ryan Ketchner (6-4) after Carrera's home run in the third. Ketchner went seven innings, striking out six.

Cale Iorg added insurance for the Mud Hens in the seventh, when he doubled home Justin Henry. He then scored on Michael Bertram's sacrifice fly. The Clippers threatened in the eighth against Toledo's Fu-Te Ni, but Brendan Wise relieved Ni and stranded runners at second and third.

The Clippers will open the postseason at 6:35 p.m. on Wednesday at Huntington Park. David Huff (8-2, 4.36) is likely to get the ball for Columbus against the Yankees in game one of the best-of-five series. The Yankees won five of the eight regular season meetings with the Clippers, but Columbus won the 1992 Governor's Cup by defeating the Yankees, 3-2.