COLUMBUS, Ohio (Interstat) — The Columbus Clippers overcame an early three-run deficit with a four-run fourth inning to defeat the Indianapolis Indians 7-5 on Saturday afternoon at Huntington Park, extending their winning streak and deepening the Indians’ early-season struggles.

A crowd of 4,066 watched the Clippers improve to 6-1, while the Indians fell to 1-6.

The game’s pivotal moment arrived in the bottom of the fourth. After Indianapolis left fielder Billy Cook hit a solo home run in the top of the inning to extend the Indians’ lead to 5-3, Columbus catcher Cooper Ingle led off the bottom half with a solo shot of his own, cutting the deficit to one. The Clippers’ offense then erupted. Dom Nuñez was hit by a pitch, Milan Tolentino doubled and Petey Halpin singled to tie the game. Designated hitter George Valera followed with an RBI single to give Columbus its first lead at 6-5. Travis Bazzana then grounded into a double play, but it allowed Halpin to score a crucial fourth run in the inning, providing the final margin.

The game began as an offensive outburst for both sides. The Indians sent nine men to the plate in a three-run first inning against Columbus starter Ryan Webb. Cook led off with a single, advanced on a groundout and scored on a double by Esmerlyn Valdez. After a single by Rafael Flores Jr., Jhostynxon Garcia grounded out to bring in Valdez. A walk and an RBI single by Alika Williams capped the early scoring.

Columbus answered immediately in the bottom of the first against Indianapolis starter Antwone Kelly. Valera doubled and later scored on a Nolan Jones single. Stuart Fairchild and Ingle followed with consecutive RBI singles, matching the Indians’ three-run output and setting the stage for the back-and-forth contest.

Webb settled after the rocky first, finishing with 3 2/3 innings pitched, allowing seven hits and four earned runs while striking out four. The win went to reliever Tommy Mace, who entered in the fourth and threw 2 2/3 innings, giving up four hits and one earned run with three strikeouts to improve to 1-0.

Kelly took the loss for Indianapolis, falling to 0-2. He lasted 3 1/3 innings, surrendering seven runs on eight hits. Indians reliever Mike Clevinger provided two scoreless innings of hitless relief with three strikeouts.

Cook finished 3 for 4 with his home run for Indianapolis, while Valdez went 2 for 3 with an RBI. Davis Wendzel added a solo homer in the seventh inning for the Indians’ final run.

For Columbus, Valera was perfect at the plate, going 3 for 3 with a walk and an RBI. Ingle’s two-run homer was the key swing, and Halpin and Fairchild each drove in a run.

The game was delayed by rain in the top of the seventh inning after Wendzel’s home run but was later completed.

The victory continued Columbus’s dominance in the early-season series, having won three of the first four matchups. The teams conclude their series on Sunday.