Merritt posts another solid outing

Amid a season of constant unrest with 71 roster moves that have included 12 players going on the disabled list, Clippers left-hander Ryan Merritt has been the closest thing to a sure thing.

In making his fourth straight strong start, Merritt gave up seven hits, two walks and three runs and struck out four in seven innings, and the Clippers held on for a 6-5 victory over the Louisville Bats before 6,811 on Wednesday night at Huntington Park.

The Clippers (28-30) won for the fifth time in six games. Merritt averages 88 mph with his fastball and 85 with a cut fastball, but the only hard-hit ball was a homer to left-center by Chad Wallach in the seventh.

“It was a really good outing by him going deep into the game for us,’’ manager Chris Tremie said. “He stayed even or ahead in the count, and that’s what he does. He has been keeping the ball down and mixing his pitches well.’’

The numbers over the long haul for Merritt (6-5) have been remarkable. In his last seven starts, he has not allowed more than two walks and has allowed more than three earned runs once. He has gone into the sixth inning six times during that stretch.

“Every day I go out and play catch and do my prep work,’’ he said. “I try to be consistent every day. I work with my strength coach and pitching coach and do everything that I can to get better.’’

Merritt always seems to be even keel.

“I definitely feel like that’s when you get into trouble — losing focus,’’ he said. “I am not making many mistakes and I’m trying to compete on every single pitch.’’

The Clippers scored a run in the first on a single to left by Richie Shaffer that got underneath the glove of third baseman Darnell Sweeney and a throwing error on Sweeney on a chopper hit by Chris Colabello.

Louisville handed Columbus three runs in the fourth on three walks by starter Jackson Stephens, one of them to Eric Stamets with the bases loaded, an error by second baseman Dilson Herrera and double-play groundout by Shaffer.

What proved to be the winning run was scored in the eighth when Nellie Rodriguez led off with a walk, went to second on a bunt by Todd Hankins and scored on a throwing error by Darnell Sweeney.