Gomez dominates as Clippers win 1-0

The Clippers got back in the win column Friday night, and they did it without much of an offense.

After scoring 77 runs last week, Columbus started this week losing its first three games and extending its losing streak to four. The streak stopped Friday, but it wasn’t due to the Clippers production at the plate. Behind seven-shutout innings thrown by right-hander Jeanmar Gomez, the Clippers beat the Norfolk Tides, 1-0, in Southern Virginia.

Gomez was stellar all night long. The right-hander allowed just three hits and struck out eight through seven frames while walking none.

Columbus did not fare much better at the plate. The Clippers managed just four hits off Norfolk starter Steve Johnson. Only one Columbus hitter had a multi-hit game—third baseman Jason Donald, who went 2-for-4.

In the fifth inning, Columbus scored its lone run of the game, and it proved to be a game-winning run. The run came on a solo home run hit by Donald, his sixth shot of the season.

When Norfolk went to its bullpen after Johnson was removed following the sixth inning, Columbus had just two batters reach base in the last three innings of the game. Norfolk reliever Timothy Bascom gave up one hit and one walk over three frames of work.

Columbus’ bullpen was just as good, though.

After Gomez (5-2) was taken out of the game following the seventh inning, right-hander’s Dan Wheeler and Frank Herrmann continued the shutout performance. Wheeler pitched a one-two-three eighth inning and Herrmann tallied a one-two-three ninth, recording his sixth save of the season.

Columbus’ offense could have suffered in part due to Ezequiel Carrera not being with the club. The Clippers’ former center fielder was called up to Cleveland after the Indians demoted Johnny Damon. Carrera had been on fire with the Clippers since the All-Star break, hitting close to .500.

The Clippers (60-54) are now two games out of the Wild Card.

Columbus and Louisville will play game three of their series Saturday at 7:15 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.