MWL1 Clinton LumberKings

LumberKings Win First Series Since Late April

Published on May 18, 2012 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Clinton LumberKings News Release


Clinton, Iowa - Before Friday night, the last series the Clinton LumberKings won was on the road in late April against the Great Lakes Loons. The LumberKings changed that with an 8-2 win at Ashford University Field on Friday night against the Peoria Chiefs. After squandering many opportunities to score runs in Thursday night's game, the LumberKings seized the opportunity Friday.

Although they were only 4 for 17 with runners in scoring position, the hits came in a timely manner. Catcher Mike Dowd got the scoring started in the second inning with a base hit, scoring Mario Yepez who was 3 for 3 with a walk and two runs scored.

Peoria came back in the fourth to tie it when Ryan Cuneo ripped an RBI double off the wall in right. Clinton got the run back in the fifth despite four strikeouts in the frame by Jose Rosario. The Chiefs starter struck out Dillon Hazlett to start the inning and then got Bryan Brito swinging, but he reached first on a wild pitch. Jamal Austin followed with a single to right, sending Brito first to third. Shortstop Ketel Marte struck out swinging for the second out. With Steve Baron at the plate, Rosario uncorked his second wild pitch of the inning, this time scoring Brito from third. Baron struck out for the third out to complete the rare feat for Rosario.

In a wild bottom of the seventh inning, Clinton scored four times to break it open. Austin led off with a double and was sacrificed to third by Marte. Baron hit a ground ball right at Chiefs third baseman Wes Darvill who cut down Austin at the plate for the second out of the inning. Dan Paolini was next and smoked a double down the left field line to score Baron who just beat a play at the plate. With Paolini at third, Yepez walked and Blash reached on an error by Darvill, scoring Paolini. Dowd then lifted a shallow fly to left center that dropped in between shortstop Marco Hernandez and center fielder Pin-Chieh Chen. Yepez and Blash came around to score when Paul Hoilman, who cut off the throw from Chen, hit Dowd in the helmet, allowing the ball to scatter into left field. Dowd then raced Hoilman to third but was tagged out on a throw from Cuneo in shallow left.

Clinton picked up two more runs in the eighth. Hazlett led off with a triple and scored on Austin's second double of the game. After Marte bounced out for the second out of the inning, Baron smoked a triple down the right field line to score Austin.

Lost in the commotion of the final innings was the quality start turned in by right-hander Ambioris Hidalgo. Hidalgo walked two in the opening inning but got Darvill to bounce into a 4-6-3 double play to end the frame. He settled in nicely and allowed one run on three hits in six innings. He picked up his second win of the year. Despite collecting nine strikeouts, Rosario was saddled with his fourth loss of the season.

Clinton opens a three-game set with rival Quad Cities on Saturday night at Ashford University Field. The LumberKings will don red jerseys in honor of American Heart Association Jersey Auction Night. All LumberKings players and coaches will autograph the jerseys following Saturday's game and fans will have the opportunity to bid on the jerseys. Left-hander Jeremy Dobbs makes his first start for Clinton and is opposed by left-hander Hector Hernandez (3-2, 3.26) for the River Bandits. First pitch is scheduled for 6:00 PM.

Check out the Clinton LumberKings Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Midwest League Stories from May 18, 2012


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central