LumberKings Return Favor, Rout Hawks

Published on July 23, 2009 under Midwest League (MWL1)
South Bend Silver Hawks News Release


Clinton, IA - After routing Clinton 10-2 in the first game of the series last night, the Silver Hawks had the favor returned as the LumberKings hit three home runs on their way to an 11-3 win on Thursday night.

Clinton scored the first two runs of the game in the third inning against South Bend starter Randy Rodriguez (LP, 3-8). Travis Howell started the inning with a double to right-center, which was actually the first hit for either team in the game. With one out, Jake Shaffer drove home Howell with a single to center, and Scott Savastano added a RBI single with two outs for the early 2-0 lead.

It stayed that way until the sixth, when Clinton blew the game open with a five run inning, including back-to-back homers. With runners at first and second and one out, Luis Nunez singled to center, scoring one run. When Nunez rounded first too far, the throw in from the outfield was cut off by Nelson Gomez and he snapped a throw to first. Unfortunately, the throw was wide, allowing another run to score on the error for a 4-0 Clinton lead.

Travis Howell followed the error with a two run homer to left, his seventh of the season, and Daniel Carroll made it back-to-back shots as he took one out to left as well, his first of the year. Daniel Vasquez (ND) came in to get the final outs, but the damage was done with Clinton leading 7-0 after six.

South Bend finally got to Clinton starter Kenn Kasparek (WP, 7-5) in the seventh inning. After getting through six innings in shutout fashion by allowing only one hit, Kasparek allowed singles to Marc Krauss and Ramon Ramirez in the seventh before turning it over to the bullpen. Matt Renfree (ND) allowed three straight RBI singles to Alberto Diaz, Tyson Van Winkle, and Victor Estevez to allow the Silver Hawks to close the gap at 7-3.

The hit for Van Winkle was his first hit and first RBI as a member of the Silver Hawks, playing in his fourth game with South Bend. He was drafted this June from Gonzaga University in the tenth round, and played in 19 games with short-season A affiliate Yakima before joining the Hawks.

Clinton got to Vasquez for a run in the seventh and three in the eighth to put the game away. Nunez had a RBI double to score an unearned run in the seventh, and Kyle Seager hit a three run homer in the eighth to cap the scoring for Clinton.

The teams wrap up the three game series on Friday evening at Alliant Energy Field with an 8:00 PM Eastern Time first pitch. LHP Wade Miley (3-7, 4.37 ERA) will be on the mound for South Bend, while Clinton counters with RHP Brett Lorin (5-4, 2.44 ERA). Pregame coverage begins at 7:40 PM Eastern Time on 1620 ESPN Radio and online at www.silverhawks.com.

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Midwest League Stories from July 23, 2009


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