MWL1 Clinton LumberKings

Cedar Rapids Scores Twice in Seventh to Hand LumberKings a 2-1 Loss

Published on July 29, 2010 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Clinton LumberKings News Release


Clinton, IA - Ace-like stuff from left-hander Jimmy Gillheeney ultimately couldn't keep the Clinton LumberKings from losing for the eighth time in nine games as his two runs allowed in the seventh end up being the game-winners as the Cedar Rapids Kernels won, 2-1.

Gillheeney (L, 8-8) scattered six hits over 7.0 innings and finally surrendered to a Kernel rally in the seventh. Michael Wing shot a single into right with one out and advanced to second on a wild pitch. After a walk to Justin Bass, Jon Karcich tied the game with a towering double off the wall in right, just clearing Kalian Sams' head to tie the score 1-1. Hampton Tignor would push across the game-winner with a squeeze bunt down the third-base line, scoring Bass.

The LumberKings managed just one run of support for Gillheeney despite plenty of early chances against left-hander Stephen Locke. After running right out of a two-on, two-out chance in the first inning, the Kings loaded the bases in the second. Sams almost delivered a three-run homer to straightaway center, but his ball hit off the wood wall and the other two runners held.

Locke induced Gabriel Noriega into a grounder up the middle that forced out Sams but allowed James Jones to trot home from third base for the 1-0 Clinton lead.

The game would remain that way as Locke (W, 6-3) yielded just the run on four hits while striking out four over 6.0 innings. Right-handers Young-Il Jung and David Carpenter worked scoreless seventh and eighth innings, and closer Johnny Hellweg came on for the ninth.

Henry Contreras drew a one-out walk from Hellweg and was replaced by pinch-runner Matt Cerione. The Kings were just one swing of the bat away from a walk-off win, but Hellweg (S, 12) struck out Luis Nunez swinging and Mario Martinez looking to end the game.

Karcich proved to be the offensive star for the Kernels, going 2-for-4 with the RBI double. Meanwhile, no LumberKings' hitter posted more than one hit. Martinez finished 0-for-4 to see his 10-game hitting streak snapped.

The LumberKings (14-17) close out the series with the Kernels (20-11) tomorrow night at Alliant Energy Field, first pitch scheduled for 7:00 PM. Left-hander Nick Czyz (2-2, 4.34) will make his seventh start of the year on John Danks Bobblehead Night, sponsored by Casey's General Stores and KWQC-TV. Listen to the game on AM 1390 KCLN in Clinton or live on the web at 1390kcln.com.

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Midwest League Stories from July 29, 2010


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