MWL1 Clinton LumberKings

Cougars Take First Game of Final Homestand

Published on August 21, 2008 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Clinton LumberKings News Release


Clinton, IA - The final homestand of the 2008 season began on a sour note for the Clinton LumberKings Thursday night. After erasing a 3-0 deficit, the Kings couldn't recover from Todd Johnson's solo home run in the fifth as the Kane County Cougars won 4-3.

The Cougars jumped out to a 1-0 lead against starter Ryan Tatusko as the game's first batter Adam Klein tripled to the right-center gap. A ground ball off the bat of Michael Richard that ate up second-baseman Matt Lawson sent Klein home.

Kane County made it 3-0 with a two-run second, loading the bases on hits by Justin Frash and Matt Ray and a walk by Greg Dowling. Tatusko almost escaped the jam, striking out Petey Paramore for the second out, but Klein slapped a double just inside the third-base line, scoring a pair.

The Kings' offense answered back against lefty Anthony Capra in the bottom of the second. Cristian Santana and Carlos Dominguez both singled, and Miguel Alfonzo drove home a run with his ninth double. Davis Stoneburner followed with a flare single that dropped between a trio of Cougars, scoring Dominugez, and Engel Beltre grounded out 4-3 to allow Alfonzo to score.

Tied at 3-3, Johnson put the Cougars ahead for good in the fifth. With Tatusko still on, Johnson lead off with a no-doubt blast to the right-field Lumber Lounge for his 13th of the year.

The bullpens took over, and neither side scored the rest of the way. Right-hander Chad Kerfoot (H, 3) tossed 3.0 scoreless innings for Kane County, answered by Clinton righty Keisuke Ueno, who also posted 3.0 scoreless frames.

Clinton's best opportunity came in the sixth with Alfonzo and Stoneburner aboard and two outs, but Johnson flagged down a threatening liner by Beltre to the right-field corner, ending the threat.

Fabio Castillo did not allow a run in the ninth after giving up a single and a walk, but the LumberKings couldn't knot the game against Leonardo Espinal (S, 4), who retired the side in order. Lawson nearly beat out a grounder past the mound on a dive to first, but Ray got him on a close play to end the game.

Tatusko (L, 2-10) yielded four earned runs on five hits over 5.0 innings, walking four while striking out two. The home run he allowed to Johnson was his ninth of the season.

Capra (W, 4-2) allowed the three-run second, but nothing else. He finished with six hits, three walks and three strikeouts over 5.0 innings.

Santana was Clinton's only hitter with a multi-hit game, as he finished 2-for-4. Texas Rangers' first-round pick Justin Smoak went 0-for-3 with a walk and two strikeouts in his home debut.

Klein lead the Cougars with a 2-for-4 game and two RBI atop the order, accounting for three of the four runs scored.

The LumberKings (30-29) and Cougars (28-31) continue the four-game series tomorrow night, first pitch scheduled for 7:00 PM. Listen to the game on AM 1340 KROS in Clinton or live on the web at www.lumberkings.com.

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Midwest League Stories from August 21, 2008


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