Using a lineup consisting of just four players who began the year in Columbus, the Clippers dropped the finale of their series against Indianapolis on Thursday, giving the Indians a series win with three victories in the four-game set. The Clippers failed to capitalize with runners on base against Jameson Taillon, a top pitching prospect for the Pittsburgh Pirates.
After going 15-7 in April, the Clippers are now 9-9 in May. Despite the cold spell and their struggles on the road (9-11), they remain atop the International League West Division with a 24-16 record. The Clippers will wrap up a seven-game road trip with three games over the weekend against Louisville before an off-day Monday. They will then return home to Columbus, where they will play six straight against Buffalo and Durham before hitting the road again.
In other Clippers news from Columbus:
RODRIGUEZ’S STREAK COMES TO AN END
Infielder Ronny Rodriguez’s 17-game hitting streak came to an end on Monday night. He raised his batting average 50 points from April 24 to May 15, moving from .270 to .320 in that stretch.
After his hitless game against Indianapolis, the 24-year-old got three hits in his next eight at bats of the series. He did not play in the finale on Thursday.
FUNKY COLD MEDINA
Infielder Yhoxian Medina is making the best of his jump from High-A Lynchburg onto the Clippers roster. In seven games at Triple-A, he is hitting .391 with a .462 on-base percentage. He hit successfully in each of his first three games with the club and each of the last two. Three games have featured multi-hit efforts, including a three-hit game in his second game with the club.
He has worked three spots on the Clippers infield – second base (three games), shortstop (three games), and third base (one game). He previously appeared in two games for Columbus in 2013.
ADAMS ANCHORING ‘PEN
Former Indians reliever, 29-year-old Austin Adams, is anchoring the bullpen in Columbus with a solid start to his 2016 campaign.
His April consisted of seven appearances, earning a 2-0 mark with a 1.04 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 12 strikeouts, and two saves in eight and two-thirds innings. He has followed that up with a 0-1 record, a 1.17 ERA, a 0.78 WHIP, six strikeouts, and two saves in seven games and seven and two-thirds innings so far in May.
On a staff with six different pitchers with a save this season, Adams leads the pack with four and has finished 13 games this season, nearly double that of the next closest reliever (Jeff Johnson, seven).
GOODBYE, GROSSMAN
Switch-hitting outfielder Robbie Grossman exercised an out in his contract and became a free agent on Monday. He hit .256 with the Clippers with five doubles, six homers, and 13 RBI.
He was signed to a minor league deal by the Minnesota Twins the same day and appeared in one game at Triple-A Rochester, going 1-for-4, before his contract was purchased by the Twins on Thursday.
URSHELA REMAINS OUT
Third base prospect Giovanny Urshela remains on the 7-day disabled list for the Clippers with a right hamstring strain. The 24-year-old was hitting .283 with six doubles, two homers, and 17 RBI in 31 games prior to his injury.
According to Cleveland.com’s Paul Hoynes via his Twitter account on Thursday, Indians manager Terry Francona indicated that Urshela had “a ways to go” in his recovery and that he was only at the walk/jog stage of his rehabilitation process.
TRANSACTIONS
The Clippers have had plenty of comings and goings over the course of the last week.
Center fielder Tyler Naquin was recalled to Cleveland last Friday and was returned to Columbus on Wednesday. He was initially replaced by Akron’s Bryson Myles on the roster.
Utility man Michael Martinez saw his contract purchased by the parent Indians on Saturday. Catcher Alex Lavisky was activated from his second trip to the 7-day disabled list, replacing him on the roster.
Mike Clevinger headed to the Cleveland roster formally on Wednesday, essentially taking the spot of Cody Anderson, who was optioned to Columbus but has not appeared on the mound since the move.
Photo: Fred Squillante/The Columbus Dispatch
