Clingstones Drop Back-and-Forth Brawl with Chattanooga 

COLUMBUS, GA., — Fans at Synovus Park were in for a treat during a Tuesday night game that featured four lead changes, 11 combined runs, and 18 combined hits. The Columbus Clingstones (37-51) fought until the end, but ultimately fell to the Chattanooga Lookouts (48-39) in the series opener.

Decisive Plays: Both teams traded haymakers throughout the entire game. Chattanooga struck first in the second inning with Ethan O'Donnell's two-run home run (5) and Ruben Ibarra's solo blast (11) to secure an early 3-0 lead. The Stones loaded the bases in the home half of the frame and chipped a run off the deficit. Ethan Workinger joined in on the action with an RBI single in the third and Kobe Kato mashed his third home run of the season in the fifth to score two runs and give Columbus its first lead of the game. Ibarra delivered again, this time with an RBI double to tie the contest 4-4 in the sixth inning and Cam Collier put the Lookouts back in the lead with an RBI double of his own in the seventh. Geraldo Quintero evened the game with a sacrifice fly in the bottom half of the inning. Chattanooga would deliver the final blow with Jack Rogers' RBI single in the eighth.

Key Contributors: Kato (1-for-2, 2 RBI, 2 BB, HR, 2 runs) headlined the offense with his third home run of the season. David McCabe (2-for-4, double) turned in the Stones' only multi-hit performance of the game and Kevin Kilpatrick Jr. (1-for-3, 2 runs, SB) came around to score every time he got on base. For Chattanooga, Ibarra and O'Donnell turned in multi-hit games while also each blasting a home run. Collier and Rogers also turned in multi-hit games of their own.

Notable: Kato mashed his third home run of the season in the fifth inning. Drue Hackenberg made his first appearance in a Clingstones uniform since May 14. Hack went 3.2 innings, conceding three runs and two long balls, in his first start after his rehab assignment in the FCL. The Clingstones are now 9-4 on Tuesday games, the last time Columbus lost on a Tuesday was June 17 against Birmingham. Elison Joseph has not allowed a run or a hit since June 28.

Next Game (Wednesday, July 23): Columbus vs. Chattanooga, 7:05 pm ET at Synovus Park. Radio Broadcast: 6:50 pm ET on Sports Visions 92.1 FM. RHP Rolddy Muñoz (0-1, 2.25 ERA) will take the mound in his return to Columbus and will be opposed by RHP Jared Lyons (2-3, 3.30) for Chattanooga.