614Sports: Top 2 leading scorers in MLS facing of in Mapfre Stadium this week
Clippers + Bats = New Winning Streak?
9-1 and 2-1 Sunday losses at home to the Buffalo Bisons keeps the Columbus Clippers on the wrong side of the .500 mark after 60 games. While these consecutive results were a bummer for Columbus, a trip down to Kentucky for a few games this week against the struggling Louisville Bats—the worst team in the league—should statistically ease the pain of the aforementioned defeats with opportunities for a few wins on the road.
The Clippers can’t catch the West-leading Toledo Mud Hens (38-23) in one series. However, the Clippers are only three games behind the second place Indianapolis Indians (32-28), which is the team Columbus hosts for a three-game series this upcoming weekend.
For Columbus, this could be a big week for shifting the International League West standings in their favor leading into summer.
The Columbus Clippers (29-31) are in Kentucky for a four-game series against the Louisville Bats (22-36) starting tonight with the first pitch at 7 p.m.
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Crew SC: Representing America’s Hardest Working Teams
Though they were missing the United States Men’s National Team (USMNT) call-ups Wil Trapp (USMNT captain) and Zack Steffen, Columbus Crew SC successfully neutralized the New York Red Bulls 1-1 at MAPFRE Stadium this past Saturday night to extend its unbeaten streak to nine games.
The Crew’s #9 Pedro Santos rattled the Red Bulls early in the match by rattling the crossbar on a free kick in the 15th minute. But it was #11 Gyasi Zardes who headed home his 10th goal of the season from a cross by wingback #25 Harrison Afful that gave the Crew a 1-nil lead in the 26th minute.
However, the Red Bulls equalized the game at 1-1 in the 57th minute when the Crew’s backup keeper #24 Jon Kempin was beaten to a crossing ball that New York’s #19 Alex Muyl headed into the back of the net.
A nice scene off the pitch was the cheerful boost Crew fans received from FC Cincinnati fans who made the trip to MAPFRE Stadium in support of the #SaveTheCrew movement.
There were pleasant interactions between both fan bases over the weekend, yet the hope is that the future relationship between Columbus and Cincinnati fans will be a hellish one.
#HellIsReal
Columbus Crew SC (27 points) remain at home to host the Easter Conference-leading Atlanta United (30 points) this Wednesday at MAPFRE Stadium at 7:30 p.m., which will feature the top two leading scorers in MLS in Josef Martínez (13) and Gyasi Zardes (10). The game will be televised on Spectrum Sports.
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