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MWL1 Clinton LumberKings

Eugene Helder walks-off Chiefs in ninth in 5-4 win

July 31, 2018 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Clinton LumberKings News Release


Clinton, IA - Eugene Helder drove home Joseph Rosa in the bottom of the ninth as the Clinton LumberKings topped the Peoria Chiefs in walk-off fashion 5-4 on Tuesday night at Ashford University Field. The LumberKings (19-18, 58-49) made it back-to-back walk-off wins for the first time this season as they split a four-game series with the Chiefs (22-14, 61-45).

The LumberKings lead for most of the game after jumping out to an early 2-0 lead against Peoria starter Paul Balestrieri.

In the bottom of the second, Clinton rallied for two runs following a leadoff double by Dimas Ojeda. The double would go as the LumberKings only extra base hit of the game. Johnny Adams scored Ojeda two batter later with a single up the middle and Adams would score himself on a combination, wild pitch, fly out, and throwing error by Chiefs catcher Julio Rodriguez.

The Chiefs scored their first run of the night in the top of the fifth inning. JR Davis lifted a high arching home run just over the wall in left for his fourth home run of the season to cut the LumberKings lead in half.

Clinton looked to pull away from the Chiefs in the fifth with their second two-run rally of the night. Zach Scott opened the inning with a single to center and scored three batters later on a Jack Larsen RBI single. Ojeda then drove home Larsen with the third LumberKings hit of the inning.

Leading 4-1, the LumberKings failed to hold the lead. Clay Chander in his final inning of the work, the sixth, allowed two runs. Three straight hits opened the inning for Peoria with Yariel Gonzalez chasing home the first run of the inning on an RBI double and Zach Kirtley plated the second run on an RBI ground out.

The Chiefs tied the game in the seventh against LumberKings reliever Matt Clancy. Nick Plummer drew a two out walk and scored on a Luken Baker RBI double to the gap in left center field that tied the score at four.

Marvin Gorgas followed Clancy out of the pen and worked the ninth for Clinton. In his only inning of work, Gorgas (5-2) worked a perfect frame of relief to earn his fifth win of the season.

The LumberKings then broke the tie in the bottom of the ninth inning for their eighth walk-off win of the season. Rosa drew a one out walk against Ben Yokley and moved to second on a Larsen infield single. Helder then dunked a 2-1 fastball into right center field of Yokley (1-1) to score Rosa for the game's winning run.

The LumberKings will now hit the road for a brief three-game road trip and series with the Quad Cities River Bandits starting on Wednesday night. Clinton will throw left-hander Ray Kerr (3-9, 4.15) while the River Bandits will tap righty Jairo Solis (1-4, 3.67). Game time is slated for 6:35 PM (CDT). Fans looking to listen to the game can hear Erik Oas on the call on 100.3 FM WCCI and online at lumberkings.com via the tunein radio ap at 6:20 PM with the pregame show.

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