Berger, Clippers blasted by Chiefs, 13-4

SYRACUSE - For the second time in as many games, the Columbus Clippers fell into a sizable hole early and were unable to recover.

Columbus (21-25) lost to the Syracuse Chiefs, 13-4, Thursday night at Alliance Bank Stadium in Syracuse, New York. The loss was the third straight for the Clippers, and the fifth in seven games.

Home runs and a barrage of hits were the thorn for Clippers' starter, left-hander Eric Berger.

Syracuse had two homers and nine hits off Berger, which brought in 10 runs. Berger (1-2) only lasted two innings and was replaced by right-hander Matt Langwell after loading the bases in the bottom of the third inning without retiring any Chiefs. Syracuse scored 12 runs over the game's first three frames, 11 of which came in the second-and-third innings.

The Clippers were able to score some runs in the game's early going as well, but not nearly to the extent Syracuse was.

Columbus took a 2-1 lead after Clippers' right fielder Jared Goedert homered to center field in the top of the second inning, plating himself and first baseman Matt LaPorta.

Following the Chiefs' five-run outburst in the bottom of the second inning, a LaPorta infield single brought home another Clippers' run to bring Columbus within three.

An RBI single by Goedert scored Columbus' last run of the game in the top of the fifth inning.

Columbus and Syracuse will play game two of the series on Friday at 7:05 p.m

Andrew Holleran is a third-year journalism student at The Ohio State University. You can follow him on Twitter @andrewjholleran or reach him via e-mail at holleran.9@buckeyemail.osu.edu.