6th and 7th innings do in Catfish

Take away the 6th and 7th innings, and the Columbus Catfish would have won today. But that's now how baseball is. All at-bats, all innings, all runs count. And that meant the Catfish lost to the Charleston RiverDogs (Yankees) 11-7 today.

Things started well enough. Catfish CF Emeel Salem reached on an error, then 2B Cody Cipriano hit a massive shot off the scoreboard netting over the Sonic sign in left-center, giving the Catfish an early 2-0 lead.

Then, with 2 outs in the 2nd, 1B Henry Wrigley hit a solo shot over the St. Francis sign in left.



Catfish starter Alex Cobb would keep Charleston off-balance through 5 innings, save an Abraham Almonte home run to right in the top of the 5th.

With the Catfish leading 3-1 in the 6th inning, things fell apart. Cobb appeared to suffer a twinge in his arm or shoulder, but shook it off after the trainer checked on him. However, an error, a single, and two doubles gave Charleston a 4-3 lead.

John Baird came on in relief, walked a batter, got the second out, but allowed an Almonte homer off the clubhouse roof in right, putting Charleston up 7-3.

In the bottom of the 6th, RF Maiko Loyola walked, advanced to third on a single by C Mike McCormick and an error by LF Austin Krum. He scored on a sacrifice fly by Wrigley.

Charleston added four more in the 7th. Wady Rufino blasted a 3-run shot over the door in the outfield wall in left-center, giving Charleston an 11-4 lead.

The Catfish didn't quit, though. 1B Shawn Williams and SS Joey Callender singled. Williams made it to third on a double play ball that erased Callender. He scored on a Cipriano single. DH Reid Fronk doubles, driving in Cipriano. 3B Greg Sexton reached on an error, scoring Fronk, and closing the gap to 11-7. After Loyola walked, Jason Stephens came in for Charleston and got McCormick to pop up, ending the game.

Cobb allowed 3 earned runs, 5 overall, on 9 hits in 5-1/3 innings work. He struck out a pair, and was tagged with the loss. He's now 2-2 on the year, with his ERA up to 2.45. Baird worked 1-2/3 innings, allowing 6 runs, all earned. Brian Flores worked the last 2 for the Catfish, allowing 2 hits and striking out three.

At the plate, Wrigley was 2-for-2, with a homer and 2 RBIs. Callender was 3-for-4. Cipriano was 2-for-5, with a homer, 2 runs scored, and 3 RBIs. Every Catfish batter reached base at least once in the game. They left 8 on base, 6 in scoring position.

The Catfish fall to 8-9 with the loss, and need a win tomorrow to earn a split with Charleston. The home stand concludes with Rome coming to town for games Tuesday and Wednesday.