Right-handed pitcher Jose Contreras made his debut at Cooper Stadium on Sunday and looked ready for a return to the major leagues as the Columbus Clippers won 7-3 over the Scranton-Wilkes Barre Red Barons.

Contreras pitched five solid innings, allowing only four hits and two runs, while striking out eight. The two runs came in the first inning on a home run by Red Barons designated hitter McKay Chirstensen to right field. But after that first mistake, Contreras calmed himself down like a big leaguer and allowed only two base-runners over the next four innings.

“After that home run I was able to throw my pitches for strikes, and things turned out pretty well,” Contreras said through an interpreter.

Contreras is a recent addition to the Clippers roster, having been sent down from the New York Yankees after a rough start in the spring. He was first sent to Single-A Tampa and then brought to Columbus to work on his pitching and gain some confidence.

All of the moving came as of shock to the Cuban-born Contreras, but now he believes it was for the best.

“It is better for me to pitch here and get some innings and work every five days. So now looking back it is going to help me and was a great decision,” he said.

After two starts, 10 innings and 16 strikeouts, it appears he is ready for the New York rotation.

“I feel strong, I have had decent control, and I am going to continue to work, but it is not my decision when I am ready,” Contreras said.

In addition to Contrera’s pitching performance, right-hander Sam Marsonek came on in relief and threw three shutout innings, allowing only one hit, to earn his second win of the season.

“Sam came in and did a heck of a job for us. He held it right there until we scored some runs,” said Columbus manager Bucky Dent.

The game was tied at two in the seventh inning when the struggling Drew Henson stepped to the plate with runners on second and third and one out.

“I have had some situations like that before, and I haven’t been able to get guys in,” Henson said.

But this time he did get them in with a sharp line drive to center field that sent Marcus Thames and Ryan McGuire home to give the Clippers a 4-2 lead.

“He got a big hit, and he needed that for his confidence. He has been out hitting early for the last few days ,and to get that hit was real important,” Dent said.

The Clippers added three more runs in the eighth for insurance and then held on for the win. It was the first series win for the Clippers this season, as they won three out of four against the Red Barons.

“It gets us going in a positive direction. We aren’t going to get back to five hundred in a day or two, but this is a step in the right direction,” Henson said.