MUSKEGON – The Muskegon Clippers’ postseason hopes took a big step in the wrong direction on Tuesday night at Marsh Field.

The day actually started out well for the Clippers. They completed a game against Jet Box that was interrupted by rain last Friday and won 5-1 at Marsh Field.

Muskegon, which led 4-1 in the road game before the rain, added a run and won 5-1.

But the Clippers needed to keep on winning to keep their thin postseason hopes alive, and they failed to do so in the second game of the evening.

Clippers reliever Connor Vallie, a Mona Shores graduate, unleashes a pitch. Photo/Dan Gawkowski

The managed only four hits and fell to Jet Box 6-2.

Muskegon is now 16-19 on the season and will have to win the last three games of the season to finish at the .500 mark. The Clippers will also have to hope the second-place Lima Locos end the season with a four-game losing streak to have any remaining playoff hopes.

The Clippers will play their final home game on Wednesday night against the Jet Box before finishing the season on the road against the Royal Oak Leprechauns.

Muskegon pitcher Daniel Gutierrez covers first base to get an out. Photo/Dan Gawkowski

“Now you don’t get to control much of your fate, now you have to watch the scoreboard,” said Clippers manager Logan Fleener. “We can’t lose again, and nobody did that to us but us. It’s been a roller coaster. There have been times where we have been really good and times when we have been average.”

Jet Box opened the scoring with a two-run home run by Zac Jones to take a 2-0 lead in the second inning.

The Clippers responded with one run in the second inning on an RBI groundout by Cole Brennan.

Jet Box added three runs in the fifth inning on an RBI double by Caden Penn and a two-run double from Brennan Lux to take 5-1 advantage.

Clippers first baseman Trent Nielsen gets ready for a pitch while keeping an eye on the Jet Box baserunner. Photo/Dan Gawkowski

The visistors added their final run in the seventh and final inning.

Muskegon threatened in the bottom of the seventh, scoring on an RBI groundout by Stoney Smith.

The Clippers had the tying run in the on-deck circle but couldn’t get him to the plate.

Daniel Gutierrez suffered the loss from the mound, allowing two runs on five hits in 2 1/3 innings while striking out three batters.

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