Weekend Ball Unkind to Clippers in Rubber Match

Jonathan Timm

Celina, OH: The Muskegon Clippers (8-13) could not hang on to their 3-0 lead as the Grand Lake Mariners (8-12) scored four unanswered runs to win in a narrow 4-3 fashion on Sunday at Montgomery Field to take the series two games to one.

The Clippers are now 0-8 in weekend games this season.

After a one-out double from Connor Kelly in the top of the ninth, Joe Chrapliwy came in as a pinch runner and made it to third base with two outs. Jackson Isaacs grounded out to second to end the game with the potential tying run 90 feet away. 

Isaacs had something to do with every Clipper run, scoring on an RBI-double from Braden Graves in the the second inning to make it 1-0. In the fifth inning, Isaacs’ two-RBI single came with two outs and gave the Clippers a temporary 3-0 advantage. 

The Mariners cut the lead down to a run after a two piece in the bottom of the fifth. In the sixth, Ty O’Brien struck in a similar way to Saturday, this time with an RBI-triple to tie the game. Next batter, Isaac Sobieszczyk drove O’Brien home with a go-ahead sacrafice fly. 

Connor Freeman went five innings in his start, and ended his day with five strikeouts, six hits, two earned runs and no walks. The other two Mariner runs were off Max Salas, who was the first line relief. 

Third Clipper pitcher Colton “Groundball” Blankstrom got a key double play ball that went Head to Bakus in 6-3 style to stand a potential fifth run from scoring to end the seventh.   

Winston Delp pitched a scoreless 8th, making it back-to-back nights throwing a goose egg, and completing a walkless day for the Clipper pitching staff.

Clippers had seven total hits as a squad, with two off the bat of Jack Bakus alone. His single and double put him at an on base streak of 19 games, and a hitting streak of 8. Other Clipper hits came from Kelly, Graves, Isaacs, Casey Joppie and Taylor Head. 

The Mariners walked six Clippers and hit three. A lone error in the game was against Taylor Head.

Grand Lake scored their four on nine hits, and were hit by pitches twice.

Clippers will play a five game in five day homestand at Marsh Field from Tuesday through Saturday, beginning with the Lima Locos coming to town for a three game series. First pitch for Game 1 is at 6:35.