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LumberKings Hold off Fort Wayne 9-8

June 2, 2011 - Midwest League (MWL) Clinton LumberKings

Fort Wayne, IN - Jabari Blash doubled home Steven Baron in the top of the ninth to put Clinton ahead by a run, and Anthony Phillips started a 6-2-3 double play to leave the tying and winning runs aboard in the bottom of the ninth to give the LumberKings a 9-8 win over the Fort Wayne TinCaps Thursday night at Parkview Field. The LumberKings won all three games of the series for their first sweep of 2011.

The game was a back-and-forth showcase of the offenses for most of the night with the lead changing hands three times. The LumberKings held 3-0, 4-1 and 5-2 leads on the strength of RBI singles from Kalian Sams and Blash in the first inning and a solo home run by Baron in the third inning. Tim Morris also grounded into a bases-loaded double-play in the second inning, scoring Phillips.

Left-hander Edlando Seco yielded four runs over 3.1 innings and exited with a runner at first base in the fourth. Right-hander Stephen Kohlscheen surrendered a sacrifice fly to Luis Domoromo and a two-run home run to Jake Blackwood, giving the TinCaps a sudden 6-5 advantage.

The Kings didn't wait long taking the lead back, scoring three runs of their own against Branham in the fifth. Sams blasted a two-run homer over the back wall of the ballpark in left and Kevin Rivers singled and scored on a sacrifice fly by Matt Browning to establish an 8-6 lead. Branham finished with eight earned runs over 4.1 innings for Fort Wayne.

Kohlscheen gave up a solo home run to Cole Tyrell in the fifth and right-hander Jessie Nava allowed a game-tying double to Tommy Medica in the sixth as the TinCaps evened the game at 8-8. Nava turned in scoreless seventh and eighth innings, striking out five batters in that span to keep the game tied.

In the top of the ninth, Baron opened the frame against sidewinding left-hander Jeff Ibarra with bullet down the left-field line for a double. Blash then stepped up and lined a double off the wall in center, scoring Baron. Ibarra (L, 0-2) recovered to strand Blash at third base, keeping the Clinton lead at 9-8.

Nava (W, 1-1) walked the first man he faced in the bottom of the ninth and gave up a flare single to Chris Bisson that dropped just inside the left-field line. B.J. Guinn popped up a bunt to Baron behind the plate for the first out, and Nava was then lifted.

Right-hander Keli'i Zablan walked Rico Noel to load the bases, but then induced Rymer Liriano's grounder to the drawn-in Phillips at short, who immediately came home for a force out. Baron then tossed back to first to get Liriano, ending the game.

Blash went 4-for-5 with two doubles and two RBI, while Sams finished 2-for-5 with his team-leading fifth home run and three RBI. Baron went 2-for-4 with his fourth home run and an RBI as well for the LumberKings, who have won three-straight games for just the second time this season.

Blackwood (1-for-5, HR) and Medica (2-for-3, 2 doubles) each drove in two runs apiece for the TinCaps, who have lost four-straight.

The LumberKings (17-38) continue the six-game East Division trip as they head to Eastlake, OH to take on the Lake County Captains (25-29) tomorrow night at Classic Park, first pitch scheduled for 6:00 PM central time. Right-hander Jandy Sena (2-2, 4.35) makes a spot start for Clinton, while Lake County counters with right-hander Kyle Blair (3-3, 5.50). 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 June 2, 2011


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