Three Run Captains Second Dooms LumberKings In Series Opener
May 5, 2016 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Clinton LumberKings News Release
Clinton, IA - With two outs in the third inning, the Lake County Captains strung together three hits that scored three runs, extending their one run lead to four. The rally would prove to be the difference as the LumberKings (16-11) ran the tying run out of the ninth inning, falling to the Captains (19-9) 4-2 in the series opener Thursday night at Ashford University Field.
Lake County got on the board in the second, as Connor Marabell scorched a double down the left field line to lead off the frame against LumberKings starter Zack Littell (1-3). Sam Haggerty's ground out moved Marabell to third, and Anthony Miller singled him home to make it 1-0 Captains. The big Lake County rally in the third was started by a Nathan Lukes bunt single leading off the inning. Littell got the next two men in order before giving up a triple to Francisco Mejia to make it 2-0. The next batter was Marabell, and he doubled home Mejia running the Captains tally to three. Sam Haggerty was up after that, and he notched a single to score Marabell, making the score 4-0 at the time.
Captains starter Casey Shane (3-1) held the LumberKings hitless until two outs in the fourth, when Dalton Kelly reached on an infield single. Shane then walked Logan Taylor, and surrendered a single up the middle to Ricky Eusebio, scoring Kelly to get the LumberKings on the board. Clinton would get another run in the sixth as Kelly grounded into a fielder' s choice with runners at the corners, scoring Braden Bishop and cutting the deficit to 4-2. After Shane walked Taylor again, he was lifted in favor of Matt Whitehouse, who got Eusebio to hit into an inning ending double play.
After the third inning, Zack Littell was dynamite, not allowing a hit the rest of the game. Littell exited after six innings of work, making it the fourth straight start he has completed at least six innings. Rohn Pierce then came in and retired all six batters he faced, while Dylan Silva pitched a scoreless ninth as well.
With the score still 4-2, the LumberKings had a golden opportunity to tie or possibly win the game in the bottom of the ninth. Captains closer Yoiber Marquina walked Ricky Eusebio to lead off the ninth, and Chris Mariscal singled to put the tying run at first with nobody out. Gus Craig tried to get a bunt down, but after two unsuccessful attempts, he struck out swinging. James Alfonso pinch hit for Arturo Nieto, and with Alfonso at the plate, a double steal was put on to try and do the job that the bunt would've effectively done. Lake County catcher Francisco Mejia fired a dart down to third, nabbing Eusebio for the second out. Marquina then fanned Alfonso to end the game, recording his third save.
The LumberKings and Captains play again tomorrow night at 6:30 PM. Righty Kyle Wilcox goes for Clinton, while Lake County counters with lefty Sam Hentges. Tickets can be purchased by calling 563-242-0727 or by visiting the ticketing page at www.lumberkings.com.
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