Stewart, who entered the game with one double on the season, finished 3-for-4 with three RBI and a run, while Yariel Gonzalez went 2-for-5 with a double, a single and a run. Renato Núñez reached base on each of his first four plate appearances, going 1-for-2 with a single, three walks and a pair of runs, while Juan Centeno ended the night 1-for-2 with an RBI single and two walks. Additionally, Aderlin Rodríguez was 2-for-5 with two singles for his team-leading 14th multi-hit game of the campaign.
Starting pitcher Ricardo Pinto kept Columbus at bay through his first three innings of work, but was saddled with the loss after allowing four earned runs on six hits and six walks while tallying one strikeout in 3.2 frames.
The Mud Hens (20-20) opened the scoring with a pair of runs in the top of the second inning. Núñez picked up a leadoff walk before Gonzalez lined a double into the right-field corner to put men on second and third with nobody out. Stewart then brought both runners home with a double to right, though he was thrown out trying to stretch his hit into a triple.
Columbus (19-21) eventually grabbed the lead with a four-spot in the bottom of the fourth frame. With the bases loaded and one down, the Clippers traded a run for an out to get on the board as Connor Marabell hit a ground ball to first that scored Gabriel Arias. The next batter, Oscar Mercado, put the hosts in front when he lifted a two-out, three-run homer into the left-field bleachers. The Clippers added another run an inning later when Trenton Brooks hit a solo shot to right, and scored four times in the bottom of the seventh to open up a 9-2 cushion.
The Mud Hens were able to score twice in the top of the eighth. Núñez drew another leadoff walk, and scored when Stewart lined a one-out double into right to cut the deficit to 9-3. Two batters later, Centeno singled into left-center to plate Stewart and make it a 9-4 ballgame. However, the Clippers responded with three more runs in the home half of the eighth to wrap up the contest.
What’s Next:
The Mud Hens return to Huntington Park on Sunday to conclude their six-game series against the Clippers. First pitch is scheduled for 2:05 p.m.
Hens Notes:
• Prior to Saturday’s game, the Detroit Tigers placed infielder Niko Goodrum on the 10-day injured list with a left finger tendon injury. In a corresponding move, the Tigers recalled infielder Isaac Paredes from the Mud Hens.
• With a one-out single in the top of the sixth inning, Renato Núñez extended his hitting streak to six consecutive games.
• Yariel Gonzalez registered his 11th multi-hit game of the season.
• Christin Stewart netted his third multi-hit effort of the season, and fourth multi-RBI game of the year.