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MWL1 Clinton LumberKings

Kings Come Back in Game One, Fall in Game 2

May 27, 2010 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Clinton LumberKings News Release


Clinton, IA - Daniel Carroll's push bunt up the first base line scored Brandon Bantz for a thrilling 6-5 comeback win in game one, but the Clinton LumberKings would see opportunity slip through their grasp in a 2-1 loss in game two as the Burlington Bees battled for a doubleheader split at Alliant Energy Field.

The Kings trailed 4-0 in the first game as right-hander Taylor Lewis served up an RBI double to Fernando Cruz, a two-run triple to Hilton Richardson and an RBI single to Rene Oriental.

The comeback began in an unlikely way in the third inning. Struggling nine hitter Gabriel Noriega blasted an opposite-field home run - his first of the year - into the Lumber Lounge to cut into the Burlington lead. In the fourth, Tim Morris jolted a solo blast as well to the Lounge, also his first of the year to make it a 4-2 game.

A Joey Lewis home run put Burlington back ahead by three, but Clinton would score twice in the fifth to make it a one-run game. Noriega reached and scored on an error by Oriental in right and James Jones doubled home Carroll for a 5-4 score.

Facing left-hander Ryan Dennick in the sixth, Morris singled to lead off the inning. After Dennick (L, 0-1) retired Kalian Sams and Mario Martinez, Brandon Bantz came through with a clutch game-tying single to left. Noriega lifted a flare single to put runners at the corners, setting the stage for Carroll. His push bunt up the first base line was fielded by Lewis, but no-one came to cover. Bantz rounded third and scored, putting the LumberKings ahead, 6-5.

That lead would be enough for closer Brandon Josselyn in the ninth. He struck out Gerard Hall and induced J.D. Alfaro into a game-ending 4-6-3 double play. The win went to Lewis (W, 3-0) despite a season-high five earned runs on nine hits over 6.0 innings.

Burlington again grabbed an early lead in game two, scoring twice on left-hander Jon Hesketh. Adam Frost produced both RBI, grounding out to plate Oriental in the second inning and singling to left to score Jose Bonilla in the fourth.

The LumberKings struggled against reliever-turned-starter Dusty Odenbach, finally recording their first hit in the fifth inning. Their comeback chance came in the sixth as Hawkins Gebbers walked, moved to second on a single by Nick Franklin and scored. Carroll dropped down another bunt single, and Odenbach threw the ball away to first.

Franklin and Carroll stood in scoring position with nobody out, but Odenbach (W, 2-3) struck out Morris before exiting. Right-hander Onassis Sirrett then struck out Vinnie Catricala and walked Jones. Martinez flied to right-center to leave the bases loaded.

Sirrett (S, 1) gave up a one-out single to Steven Baron, but got Gebbers to roll into a 6-4-3 double play to end the game.

Hesketh (L, 2-4) lost despite just two runs on three hits over 5.0 innings. He walked four and struck out four. Lefty Jose Jimenez tossed 2.0 scoreless innings in relief.

The game two loss snapped Clinton's seven-game winning streak. The LumberKings won all but the final game on their eight-game, seven-day homestand against Kane County (4-0) and Burlington (3-1).

The LumberKings (27-21) begin a 10-game road trip through Kane County, Bowling Green and Dayton tomorrow night. The opener of a four-game series against the Cougars (21-27) is tomorrow night at 7:00 PM. Right-hander Taylor Stanton (4-2, 3.43) will make his seventh start of the season. Listen to all the action on AM 1390 KCLN in Clinton or live on the web at 1390kcln.com.

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