MWL1 Clinton LumberKings

Chiefs Rally From Five Down to Stun Kings

Published on September 1, 2010 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Clinton LumberKings News Release


Peoria, IL - A two-run single by Nelson Perez with two outs in the bottom of the ninth tied the score and a walk-off single by Justin Bour won it for Peoria as the Chiefs pulled off a stunning 10-9 come-from-behind victory over the Clinton LumberKings at O'Brien Field.

Clinton led 9-4 entering the bottom of the ninth, but the first two Peoria runners reached base against right-hander Fray Martinez. Right-hander Brandon Josselyn came on and gave up a two-run double to Hak-Ju Lee and then loaded the bases on a single and a hit-by-pitch. Neither Martinez nor Josselyn were able to get an out.

Right-hander Stephen Pryor came on with the bases full and walked home a run, yet recorded two outs and had two strikes to Perez. The hulking lefty lined a two-run single to left, sending the tying runs around to score. Pryor (L, 0-2) would get the third out to send the game to extras, but immediately got in trouble in the bottom of the 10th.

A one-out walk to Lee and single by Logan Watkins put runners at the corners with one out. Bour stepped to the plate and capped a 4-for-6 night with a liner that fell into left-center, scoring Lee for Peoria's second walk-off win of the series.

The LumberKings had built the 9-4 lead on the strength of four home runs. Nick Franklin put Clinton on the board first with an opposite-field homer to left. Franklin's 22nd blast of the year tied him for the Clinton single-season franchise record, held for 49 years by Dick Kenworthy of the 1961 Clinton C-Sox. It also tied him with Quad Cities' Matt Adams for the league lead.

A solo shot to right by Matt Cerione and two-run drive to left-center by James Jones increased the lead to 4-1. Peoria would cut the lead to 4-2, but Mario Martinez would answer back with a three-run clout as the Kings took a 7-2 lead after three innings.

The two clubs traded runs over the next five innings. Right-hander Erasmo Ramirez yielded four runs on nine hits over 5.0 innings in a no-decision and was replaced by right-hander Brandon Maurer, who contributed 3.0 scoreless innings in his LumberKings' debut.

Peoria right-hander Frank Batista surrendered seven runs on eight hits over 4.1 innings, including all four Clinton homers. Right-hander Ronny Morla allowed an additional two runs over 3.0 innings. Right-hander Corey Martin (W, 4-2) ended up with his second win of the series, working 2.2 scoreless frames.

Jones (1-for-5, HR, 3 RBI), Martinez (1-for-5, HR, 3 RBI) and Franklin (3-for-5, HR, 2 RBI) all had multi-RBI games for the LumberKings, who despite the loss remain 1.5 games ahead of Kane County for the West Division's top playoff spot. Clinton also leads Beloit by 2.5 games for a post-season berth.

The LumberKings (36-28) return home for the final three-game homestand of the 2010 regular season. They take on the Beloit Snappers (32-29) with a first-pitch scheduled for 6:30 PM. Right-hander Yoervis Medina (5-0, 2.17) makes his sixth start of the year. Listen to the game on AM 1390 KCLN in Clinton or live on the web at 1390kcln.com.

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Midwest League Stories from September 1, 2010


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