MWL1 Clinton LumberKings

Eight Run Fourth Inning Springboards LumberKings to Game 1 Win

Published on September 15, 2016 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Clinton LumberKings News Release


Clinton, IA - After winning Game 3 of the Western Division 1-0 in 11 innings, the LumberKings proved that they mastered the art of the close game. Wednesday's Midwest League Championship Series opener proved to be a horse of a different color. After falling behind Great Lakes 3-0 and 5-3, the LumberKings took advantage of wildness from Loons righty Dennis Santana to score eight runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to take a lead they wouldn't relinquish. The LumberKings posted a season high 16 runs en route to a 16-6 rout over the Loons in Game 1 of the 2016 Midwest League Championship Series.

The Loons used the long ball to strike first in the top of the first. Saige Jenco singled to start the game against Luiz Gohara, and Brendon Davis followed with a single of his own. Gohara then got tough and struck out both Omar Estevez and Ibandel Isabel and got an 0-2 count on D.J. Peters. However, Gohara hung a breaking ball inside and Peters bashed it over the left field fence for his first playoff home run, making it 3-0 Loons early.

Not to be outdone, the LumberKings would take advantage of wildness from Loons starter Jordan Sheffield in the bottom of the inning. Chris Mariscal drew a leadoff walk, and Luis Liberato chopped a ball up the middle that went just into center field. Liberato dug hard around first and made it to second, while Mariscal moved to third. Dalton Kelly then stepped in, but didn't need to swing the bat in order for the LumberKings to get on the board. During the at bat with Kelly, Sheffield threw two wild pitches, bringing home both runners to get the deficit cut to one.

Clinton would then tie the game in the third as a Chris Mariscal one out walk came home on wall banging double from Luis Liberato tying the game. However, the tie was short lived, as the Loons got the lead right back in the top of the fourth. Luiz Gohara walked Darien Tubbs with one out, but with Saige Jenco up Tubbs was caught stealing second. Gohara couldn't keep the ball in the zone as he walked Jenco, and with Brendon Davis up Jenco reached second on a wild pitch. Davis then singled to left center, bringing home the speedy Jenco to give the Loons a 4-3 lead, ending the day for Gohara. Rohn Pierce then entered and gave up a triple to Omar Estevez that made it 5-3 Great Lakes, but got Ibandel Isabel to line out to third to end the inning.

Down again going into the bottom of the fourth, the LumberKings would face their third Loons pitcher of the night in hard throwing righty Dennis Santana, and would go to town on his wildness in what would prove to be the deciding inning of the game. Conner Hale started the inning with a four pitch walk, and Arturo Nieto then reached base on a five pitch walk. The next batter up was Ricky Eusebio, and a wild pitch moved both runners up a base. Eusebio then walked to load the bases, and Rayder Ascanio delivered with a two run single to center to tie the game. Center fielder Logan Landon bobbled the ball, allowing Eusebio to go to third and moving Ascanio up to second. Chris Mariscal then hit a sac fly to deep right, scoring Eusebio and advancing Ascanio to third to give the LumberKings their first lead at 6-5.

Luis Liberato dug in next, and drew a walk, but the fourth ball was a wild pitch, plating Ascanio to make it 7-5. The day was done for Dennis Santana after that, as Ivan Vieitez then entered. Dalton Kelly then reached on an infield single, moving Liberato up to second. Then Logan Taylor grounded a ball to third that he beat out to first, but third baseman Zach McKinstry's throw was well low and ricocheted out of play. Liberato scored, Kelly moved to third, and Taylor advanced to second, with the score standing at 8-5. Alex Jackson then walked to load the bases for Conner Hale, the tenth batter of the inning. Vieitez grooved an inside fastball that Hale crushed into the gap, clearing the bases to put the LumberKings up 11-5. When the dust settled, 13 men had come to the plate in an eight run inning.

Clinton wouldn't be done scoring, as they got one in the fifth, one in the sixth, and three in the eighth. Rayder Ascanio drove home four runs while Chris Mariscal ended the day with three RBI. The Loons gave up a season high in runs, with their previous high being 15. Great Lakes walked 10 batters, committed four errors, and threw eight wild pitches.

The LumberKings can take command of the series tomorrow against the Loons in Game 2 of the 2016 Midwest League Championship Series. First pitch is at 6:30 at Ashford University Field, with Pablo Lopez and Walker Buehler the scheduled starting pitchers for Clinton and Great Lakes respectively. Get your tickets by visiting www.lumberkings.com, calling 563-242-0727 or by stopping by the box office at Ashford University Field.

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Midwest League Stories from September 15, 2016


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