Clippers Win National Championship

The International League champion Columbus Clippers defeated the Pacific Coast League’s Omaha Storm Chasers 8-3 in the Triple-A National Championship Game in front of 9,569 fans last night. They also concluded a one of those rare seasons that players remember for the rest of their lives.

“We had a great clubhouse,” said pitcher Joe Martinez, the game’s most valuable player. “It’s nice when you can go in there and you genuinely like everyone. You always remember the guys you win with. We’ve got a lot of great guys here — not just good players but good people.”

The team won an IL-best 88 games and then seven more games in the postseason despite a blizzard of transactions that reached 186 when the Cleveland Indians recalled Corey Kluber yesterday.

Martinez pitched seven innings to capture his third win of the postseason.

After surrendering three runs in the first inning, Martinez didn’t allow a run over the six innings while the Columbus offense unlimbered.

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