RICHMOND, VA--Adam Stern made his first Triple-A start a memorable one, going 3-for-5 with a homer and a pair of RBI as the Richmond Braves defeated the Columbus Clippers 7-3 at The Diamond Saturday to take a 2-1 lead in the best of five International League playoff series.

Promoted from Double-A Greenville Wednesday, Stern made his first Triple-A start Saturday pacing Richmond's 14-hit offensive outburst with three safeties of his own. The outfielder singled home the Braves' first run in the three-run second and later blasted a solo home run in the fourth off Columbus' starter Buddy Carlyle (0-1).

Pete Orr, Ryan Langerhans, and Joe DePastino each contributed two hits and James Jurries belted a two-run homer in the third.

Sam McConnell (1-0) earned the victory for the Braves by scattering eight hits over five frames. The Richmond lefty exited the game ahead 6-3 handing the ball over to Buddy Hernandez who fired two hitless innings of relief. Kevin Barry and Matt Whiteside pitched the final two frames to preserve the victory.

Carlyle took the loss surrendering six runs on a season-high 11 hits in five innings.

The Clippers and Braves play game four of their series Sunday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. at The Diamond. If Richmond wins Sunday they will advance to the International League Governors' Cup Finals against the winner of the Durham and Buffalo series.