MWL1 Clinton LumberKings

Big Innings Sink LumberKings in Opener

Published on April 7, 2017 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Clinton LumberKings News Release


Geneva, IL - The Clinton LumberKings spotted the Kane County Cougars an early 7-0 lead at Northwestern Medicine Field during the opener on Thursday night and could not come back against an avalanche of offense.

Luis Liberato was the offense for Clinton, slugging the first home run of the season, a three-run shot, in the top of the fifth inning.

The trouble started immediately for LumberKings starter Ljay Newsome who allowed the first four batters he faced to reach via the single. The big blows in the seven-run Cougar first came on a two-out, two-RBI, single from Manny Jefferson and then a three-run homer by Luis Basabe that capped the rally. Both Jefferson and Basabe went 2-for-3 with a walk in a night that featured 16 Cougar hits.

Newsome (0-1) responded from the big seven-run first with shut down pitching. The righty did not allow another baserunner to reach over his four-inning outing following the Basabe home run.

Placed in an early hole, the LumberKings struggled to solve Cougars' starter Emilio Vargas over the first three innings. Despite working four walks off of the righty, Clinton still failed to collect a hit until Kristian Brito's two-out single in the fourth.

Vargas (1-0) worked the top of the fifth for Kane County, rebounding from Liberato's three-run homer to get the next two men out and qualify for his first win of the season.

Kane County continued to hit off LumberKings relievers Jack Anderson, Matt Clancy, and Michael Koval. The Cougars added single runs in the fifth and seventh innings before erupting again with a four-run eighth inning.

The LumberKings struggled to get anything going against three Cougar relievers. Tommy Eveld, Ryan Burr, and Austin Mason combined to shutout Clinton over the final four innings and hand the LumberKings a 13-3 loss.

This marked the third time the two teams matched up to open the season. The Cougars now lead the opening matchups 2-1.

The LumberKings will throw LHP Danny Garcia (0-0, 0.00) in game two of the season against Kane County's RHP Jon Duplatier (0-0, 0.00). First pitch is slated for 6:30 PM and the pregame show beginning at 6:15 PM on 100.3 FM WCCI with Erik Oas on the call.

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Midwest League Stories from April 7, 2017


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