IL· Season 2026
Ben Lively delivered 4.2 scoreless innings in his return from Tommy John surgery as the Columbus Clippers beat the St. Paul Saints 5-1.
Match Analysis
AI SummaryHow It Unfolded
The game stayed scoreless through three innings, with both starters working efficiently. Rojas appeared to injure himself delivering a 1-0 pitch to Ralphy Velazquez in the bottom of the second — he dropped his glove on the mound and walked toward second base before being escorted off by athletic trainer Ben Meyers. Aaron Rozek, originally scheduled to piggyback Rojas, entered in emergency relief earlier than planned.
Columbus broke through in the fourth. Kody Huff launched a two-out solo home run to left — his 19th of the season — putting the Clippers up 1-0.
The decisive frame came in the fifth. Dayan Frias walked with one out, stole second, and scored on Daniel Schneeman's single to make it 2-0. After a walk to Kahlil Watson put two on, Kyle Manzardo hit a fly ball to right that no Saint could track in the twilight sky; it fell for a two-run double, stretching the lead to 4-0.
Milán Tolentino added his 17th home run of the season in the sixth, a solo shot to right, pushing the score to 5-0.
Tristan Gray got the Saints on the board in the seventh with a solo homer to right — his third in three games and third of the season — cutting the deficit to 5-1. That was as close as St. Paul would get.
The Turning Point
Rojas' early exit in the second inning fundamentally altered the game. The Saints lost their planned starter before he'd recorded six outs, forcing Rozek into a multi-inning relief role rather than the piggyback assignment he'd prepared for. The disruption showed in the fifth, when Columbus scored three runs with two outs, including the Manzardo double that no defender could see against the twilight sky.
Key Performers
- Ben Lively (COL): 4.2 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K — efficient and composed in his second start back from surgery. He scattered three singles and kept runners off second base aside from one trip. Player of the match.
- Kody Huff (COL): 2-for-4, HR (19), RBI, R — opened the scoring with a solo homer and set the tone.
- Milán Tolentino (COL): 1-for-4, HR (17), RBI, R — provided insurance with the 5-0 homer in the sixth.
- Kyle Manzardo (COL): 1-for-4, 2B, 2 RBI — his twilight-assisted double in the fifth broke the game open.
- Tristan Gray (STP): 1-for-4, HR (3), RBI — homered for the third consecutive game, accounting for St. Paul's only run.
By the Numbers — Interpreted
The Clippers out-hit the Saints 6-5, a narrow margin that undersells Columbus' control of the game. Both teams managed limited traffic on the bases, but Columbus capitalised when it mattered: all five runs came via the long ball or via two-out hitting in the fifth. St. Paul left little on base, but never seriously threatened Lively or the bullpen. The Saints have scored 22 runs in the first four games of this series — 21 of them on home runs — illustrating their power-or-bust offensive profile.
What It Means
The Clippers improved to 63-54 on the season, holding steady in the International League West race. The Saints dropped to a record not officially stated but entered the series on a hot streak. St. Paul's reliance on home-run scoring (21 of 22 runs this series via the long ball) leaves them vulnerable when the power drought hits.
The same two teams meet for Game 5 of the six-game series at Huntington Park on Saturday, August 22 at 6:05 p.m. CT / 7:05 p.m. ET. The Saints send RHP Germán Márquez (1-1, 3.32) against Clippers RHP Rorik Maltrud (5-1, 3.83).
Verdict
A game decided early by an injury and broken open by a twilight-skied fly ball. Lively's return from Tommy John continues to trend positively for Columbus, while St. Paul will hope Rojas' injury is minor and their power-hitting approach finds more consistent contact.
Rivalry since 2023
Columbus Clippers vs St. Paul Head to Head Results· 50
Columbus Clippers and St. Paul have met 50 times — Columbus Clippers won 27, St. Paul won 23, with 0 draws. Their rivalry dates back to 2023. Columbus Clippers leads the head-to-head with 27 victories from 50 meetings. A combined 504 goals have been scored across these fixtures, averaging 10.08 per match (277 for the home side, 227 for the visitors). Both teams scored in 48 matches (96%). Over 2.5 goals landed in 49 games (98%), making it a fixture that tends to produce goals. The highest-scoring encounter finished 19–3 in 2026.
Statistics are for informational purposes only. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
API data: 22 Aug 2026