RICHMOND - GAME RECAP

The Columbus Clippers were in town and they boasted several stars who are just a year away from the majors. One of them is Adrian Hernandez, who started against Richmond's Joe Dawley, recently sent down from Atlanta.  

Dawley wasn't strong, giving up 2 singles in the first inning and then allowing Juan Rivera to score on a wild pitch. In the third inning, Charles Gipson singled to lead off but Dawley managed to get the next two outs. But then Fernando Seguinol came up and belted a ball deep to left to extend the Columbus lead to 3-0. Dawley completed the inning, but was replaced in the 4th by Sam McConnell who went the next 3 innings giving up only 2 hits. Meanwhile, Hernandez was excellent, allowing 3 hits over 6 innings and striking out 8.

 In the top of the 7th, Gipson bunted for a single with one out, and McConnell was replaced by Kazuhiro Takeoka. Andy Phillips wasn't impressed with Takeoka's unique delivery and crushed the first pitch into the Richmond night, making the score 5-0 and essentially ending the game. The Braves finally scored in the 7th, and the teams exchanged runs in the 8th to make it 6-2.

But the excitement wasn't over yet. In the top of the ninth, Gipson was hit by Jamie Emiliano and he flipped off the pitcher, prompting the Clippers to leave their dugout. Order was quickly restored, but then Phillips grounded into a 6-4-3 double play, and Gipson slid hard into the base. There was some shoving and suddenly both dugouts emptied. The few remaining fans woke up and started screaming for a fight, but things settled down quickly with no punches thrown and the Clippers hung on for the 6-2 victory.

Wilson Betemit watches as Damon Hollins strikes out to end the game