Homers, 15 strikeouts doom Clippers in defeat

Hernandez’s handwritten notes said. But they said they were satisfied he died at his own hand, and they said his brain would be donated to sports concussion researchers, ending a brief public dispute over its custody.

Authorities said the medical examiner had ruled Hernandez’s cause of death was asphyxia by hanging and investigators had found the notes and Bible in Hernandez’s cell at the Souza-Baranowski Correctional Center in Shirley.

Cameron Perkins hit a two-run home run and Nick Pivetta struck out 11 on Thursday to lead Lehigh Valley to a 4-2 win over the Clippers in Allentown, Pennsylvania.

Jesmuel Valentin hit a solo homer in the first inning. Perkins reached base on an error that scored Rhys Hoskins in the fourth to stake the IronPigs to a 2-0 lead. The Clippers got on the board in the sixth when Erik Gonzalez, who had tripled, scored on a groundout by Ronnie Rodriguez.

But Lehigh Valley responded quickly. Nick Williams doubled in the bottom of the sixth to bring up Perkins, who homered to left field off Clippers starter Shawn Morimando (0-3) with the third pitch he faced.

Morimando allowed nine hits in six innings, striking out two and walking one. Bradley Zimmer homered for the Clippers in the ninth for the final margin.

Pivetta, the IronPigs’ starter, allowed four hits and one run over six innings. He walked two. The Clippers struck out 15 times overall.

The Clippers (7-7) fell to .500 and head to Buffalo for a threegame series starting tonight.

Their next home game is Tuesday against Lehigh Valley.