Columbus scores six in 3rd to top Yanks

It seemed innocent enough.

A Columbus runner on first base with two outs and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre holding a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning.

A steal. A balk. A walk. Another walk. A two-RBI single. A one-run single. A three-run home run.

Six consecutive Clippers reached base with two outs in the third and all six scored en route to an 8-1 win against the Yankees in front of 11,631 fans at Huntington Park in downtown Columbus. The game was the first of an eight-day, 10-game road trip in Ohio.

The loss was the third in a row for SWB following a three-game winning streak. The Yankees (52-39) lead the International League North Division by four games over second-place Syracuse. The Clippers have won four of their last five games.

With scheduled starter Sergio Mitre being called up to New York, Romulo Sanchez made a spot start for the SWB Yankees, his fifth of the season and his first since July 8. It went well until the third inning.

With one out, Wyatt Toregas hit a single but was erased at second base on a fielder’s choice by Michael Brantley, who stole second and advanced to third on a Sanchez balk. Trevor Crowe followed with a walk and stole second, and Jordan Brown walked to load the bases.

Matt LaPorta drilled a single off Sanchez to score Brantley and Crowe and give Columbus a 2-1 lead. Wes Hodges hit a single to score Brown and make the score 3-1.

With Hodges on first and LaPorta on second, Andy Marte drilled a 1-0 fastball over the left-field fence, his IL fourth-best 15th home run of the season. The three RBI also increased his season total to 60. Marte trails only SWB’s Shelley Duncan (72) for the league lead in runs batted in.

Ramiro Pena gave the Yankees a 1-0 lead in the top of the first with his first home run of the season. The recently turned 24-year-old played in 46 games with New York before being sent down to Triple-A on July 2. The RBI was also his second in 55 at-bats.

Unfortunately for SWB, it was the team’s only big hit of the night. The Yankees failed to take advantage of several good scoring opportunities and finished 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position.

SWB hit into three inning-ending double plays, including one in the top of the ninth after the first two batters reached base.

Colin Curtis had a solid night at the plate for the Yankees, reaching base four times with three singles and a walk. Yurendell de Caster hit a double for SWB, one of only two extra-base hits for the Yankees.

Francisco Cervelli hit a single in the top of the ninth inning, one of eight hits for the Yankees. The catcher has had at least one base hit in each of the seven games he’s played in since being sent down from New York on July 9.

SWB relief pitcher Edwar Ramirez had another good outing for the Yankees, throwing the final two innings without allowing a baserunner. The right-hander hasn’t allowed a run in his last two outings. Fellow reliever Anthony Claggett pitched 2 2/3 innings for the Yankees, allowing a pair of runs in the fifth inning.

PINSTRIPE NOTES: LHP Kei Igawa will attempt to become the all-time winningest pitcher in SWB history when he takes the mound tonight against the Clippers. Igawa enters the game with a 7-3 record this season and 26 career wins in a SWB uniform. The Japanese-born pitcher is tied with former SWB Red Barons pitcher Evan Thomas for career victories with 26. Igawa allowed just three earned runs while striking out eight in six innings in his last start. He left the game with a two-run lead, but the bullpen couldn’t hold the lead and Igawa finished with a no-decision.

Looking ahead

PROBABLE STARTERS: Yankees LHP Kei Igawa (7-3, 3.70) vs. Clippers RHP Fausto Carmona (1-1, 3.79)

ON DECK: The Yankees continue their four-game series against the Clippers with a 7:05 p.m. game Wednesday.