Napoli cracks grand slam to lift Clippers to win in chilly opener

relieved by Tanner Anderson in the sixth, and Columbus batters had to be ecstatic after managing only a lead-off double by Diaz in the fourth. Kingham struck out nine.

The Clippers loaded the bases against Anderson when Francisco Mejia singled to center, Napoli walked and Eric Haase singled to center just off the glove of second baseman Kevin Kramer.

After a flyout to center by Richie Shaffer, Yu Chang brought in the first run with a single off Anderson’s glove.

Two runs scored when third baseman Jose Osuna gloved a ground ball hit by Brandon Barnes and stepped on third for the second out, but threw wide of first base for an error trying for the double play.

After Adam Rosales and Allen were each hit by pitches, Diaz made it 5-2 with a two-run single to right off Brett McKinney.

Mejia reached to load the bases for Napoli, and he delivered with a towering shot to the grass amphitheater in left for a 9-2 lead.

Napoli wore short sleeves. He is from Florida.

“I’ve never worn long sleeves because it feels uncomfortable,” he said. “My hands and everything else was cold. This is what we do. There are heaters in the dugout. Those help a little bit.”

Napoli actually hit the ball just as hard in the first inning, but center fielder Austin Meadows made a basket catch with his back to the infield on the edge of the warning track.

“I hit it good the first time and there is nothing you can do about that,” he said. “The second time I was trying to redeem myself. I was just trying to hit the ball hard somewhere. I took tonight as a positive.”

Clippers starter Shawn Morimando, a left-hander, was solid in giving up seven hits and three runs — two earned — in six innings. He struck out one and walked one. He gave up two runs on three hits and a sacrifice fly in the fourth.

Morimando praised his defense to the hilt. He kept talking about battling.

“I had never pitched in snow before and what you try to do is attack the zone and throw strikes,” he said. “A lot of it is mental. You’ve got to compete at the end of the day. I was trying to compete on every pitch to every batter in every inning. The defense set the tone — a lot of big plays to get the momentum on our side. It was a great first win for us.”