Bullpen Falters Again
July 8, 2013 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Clinton LumberKings News Release
Clinton, IA - Tyler Pike wasn't great on Monday night, but he was good enough to get the LumberKings a late lead against the Kernels. But, it didn't hold and the Kernels escaped Clinton with a 5-3 win at Ashford University Field.
Clinton scored singles runs in the first three innings. Dario Pizzano hit a sacrifice fly in the first, Gaby Guerrero had a run-scoring hit in the second and Jordy Lara pitched in with an RBI single in the third.
Pike battled through command issues but limited the Kernels to just three hits. The one run he allowed came in the second inning when Max Kepler reached on an error, one of four Clinton miscues on the night. He later came around to score on a 6-4-3 double play.
It stayed 3-1 until the "Âpen troubles began in the sixth. Mark Bordonaro was summoned and promptly walked Travis Harrison to start the inning. He got Kepler to bounce out but then walked Adam Brett Walker. A throwing error by Tyler Marlette allowed Harrison to third and Walker to second.
Bordonaro then walked Joel Licon to load the bases. He nearly got out of the jam when he got a ground ball to short. Martin Peguero flipped to Ketel Marte but the return throw to first sailed over the head of Taylor Ard. Harrison scored and Walker raced around from second to even the game at 3-3.
The struggles continued in the seventh when Bordonaro issued his fourth walk of the night, a free pass to J.D. Williams. Eddie Menchaca turned to David Holman out of the bullpen.
Jorge Polanco dropped a bunt down the first base line that Holman fielded but threw off of Polanco. The ball trickled away from the base and allowed Williams to third and Polanco to second. Dalton Hicks then bounced out to first, scoring Williams to give the Kernels a 4-3 lead.
They added another on Hicks' second RBI of the night, a run-scoring double in the ninth. Kernels reliever Tyler Jones shut down the LumberKings over the final two innings for his seventh save of the season.
Clinton gets a day off as they travel for a six-game road trip against Eastern Division foes, starting with the West Michigan Whitecaps on Wednesday. The LumberKings send out right-hander Charles Kaalekahi (2-1, 5.57) for the opener, and West Michigan counters with right-hander Montreal Robertson (2-3, 4.81). First pitch is at 6:00 PM CT.
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