LumberKings Drop Opener in Return to Cedar Rapids 6-1
May 29, 2015 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Clinton LumberKings News Release
Cedar Rapids, IA - A marathon game Thursday night in the series finale vs. Peoria appeared to have an effect on the LumberKings in their series opener vs. the Cedar Rapids Kernels (31-18). After nearly five hours and 15 innings Thursday, Clinton (23-26) scored just one run Friday and wasted a stellar 2015 debut from starter Luiz Gohara (ND). Gohara allowed only four hits over five innings and did not allow a run.
Clinton took the lead in the first inning, but for the second time in a span of four games, lost after scoring the game's first run. Three consecutive hits opened up the game, as Nelson Ward's RBI double made it 1-0 Clinton. But with men on second and third, Kristian Brito and Estarlyn Morales struck out, while Joe DeCarlo popped out to shortstop. Tallying only one run in the frame cost Clinton, as it was the best chance the LumberKings had all night.
Cedar Rapids' starter Keaton Steele (W, 2-0) was brilliant after he allowed the first three hits of the game. Steele allowed just two more hits over seven dominant innings, as the righty struck out six for the second straight start. He worked out of a bases loaded jam in the fifth due to three walks, as Clinton stranded eight men on base and went 1-13 with RISP.
Jarrett Brown (BS, L, 1-3) came on to begin the sixth inning, but the lefty could not follow fellow lefty starter Gohara's efforts. Brown allowed a single to Blake Schmit, a game tying RBI triple to Pat Kelly, a go-ahead RBI double to Zack Larson, and an RBI single to Brett Doe. Brown was charged with four earned runs over just one inning.
Cedar Rapids tallied two runs in the ninth inning off of Peter Miller, while Randy LeBlanc (SV, 1) pitched two scoreless innings to close out the Cedar Rapids win. With a loss by the division leading Quad Cities River Bandits (34-15), the Kernels are now only three games behind in the Western Division.
Ward finished the game 2-4 with two doubles and extended his hit streak to six games, while Chris Mariscal (0-3) had his 10 game hit streak snapped. Chantz Mack (2-4) was the only other Clinton hitter to record multiple hits, while Pat Kelly and Brett Doe each had three hits for Cedar Rapids.
Game two of the four game series will begin at 6:35 Saturday night in Cedar Rapids. Off of a complete game in his last start, Lukas Schiraldi (4-3, 3.97) will start for Clinton, while Zach Tillery (3-1, 2.15) will get the ball for Cedar Rapids. The LumberKings broadcast can be heard on WCCI 100.3 FM, WCCIRadio.com, and LumberKings.com.
• Discuss this story on the Midwest League message board...
Midwest League Stories from May 29, 2015
- Reyes Delivers Knockout Blow in the 12th - Fort Wayne TinCaps
- Bees' Rhoades Proves Too Tough for Bandits - Quad Cities River Bandits
- Loons Crash Hot Rods in Series Opener, 9-2 - Bowling Green Hot Rods
- Lugnuts Hold off Dragons, 5-4 - Dayton Dragons
- Chiefs Win 5-0 Friday - Peoria Chiefs
- Chiefs Win 5-0 Friday - Peoria Chiefs
- Turner Stops Dragons' Rush in 5-4 Win - Lansing Lugnuts
- Rhoades Key in Bees' Win over Bandits - Burlington Bees
- LumberKings Drop Opener in Return to Cedar Rapids 6-1 - Clinton LumberKings
- Perdomo, Chiefs Shutout Cougars - Kane County Cougars
- Rain halts Rattlers & Snappers in the sixth inning - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
- Kernels Top Clinton 6-1 - Cedar Rapids Kernels
- TinCaps Game Notes: May 29 vs. West Michigan (Game 48) - Fort Wayne TinCaps
- Fireworks, Bobbleheads, and Other Promos Mark First June Stand - Beloit Sky Carp
- Loons Play Two, Win Two - Great Lakes Loons
- LumberKings Take 15 Inning, Nearly 5-Hour Game from Chiefs - Clinton LumberKings
- Cougars Hand Bandits 1st May Series Loss - Quad Cities River Bandits
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.
