MWL1 Clinton LumberKings

Fernandez Nearly Goes Distance in Beloit

Published on July 11, 2011 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Clinton LumberKings News Release


Beloit, WI - Clinton left-hander Anthony Fernandez was sent out for the ninth inning as he attempted to become the first LumberKing to throw a nine-inning complete game since Kenn Kasparek did it on August 3, 2009, but an RBI single by Daniel Ortiz ended his night three outs shy. Still, plenty of offensive support from Tim Morris (2-for-4, HR, 3 RBI) and Kalian Sams (2-for-4, 2 HR, 2 RBI) and three-straight outs from right-hander Jonathan Arias ensured a series victory as the Kings beat the Beloit Snappers 8-2 on Monday night at Pohlman Field.

Fernandez (W, 3-2) yielded a run right away in the first inning as Daniel Santana reached on an infield single, moved to third on a single by Jairo Perez and scored on a sacrifice fly by Michael Gonzales. After that point, the southpaw turned in seven-straight scoreless innings before allowing what would be an unearned run in the ninth. Fernandez set new career-highs in innings (8.0) and strikeouts (9) while giving up seven hits on the night.

The Kings tied the score at 1-1 in the fourth inning as Mike McGee laced an opposite-field double off the right-field fence and Anthony Phillips drove him in with a clutch two-out single to shallow left-center.

Right-hander A.J. Achter stranded Phillips as he struck out Carlton Tanabe and looked unphased by the lone run, but would completely implode an inning later. Achter walked Robbie Anston, then committed a throwing error following a sacrifice bunt by Carlos Ramirez that put the runners at second and third. Mickey Wiswall snapped the tie with an RBI single to right, and Matt Browning sent a roller to first-baseman Gonzales for a fielder's choice that scored Ramirez.

Morris stepped to the plate next and lined Achter's pitch just over the wall in right-center field for a three-run homer, his first since May 14 and fourth of the season. Moments later, Sams raised the lead to 7-1 as he went back-to-back with Morris, lifting a solo home run just to the left of the batter's eye in center.

Achter (L, 2-2) gave up seven runs - six earned - on eight hits over just 4.0 innings. Right-hander Ben Tootle and left-handers Bart Carter and Jose Gonzalez kept the Kings off the board over the next 4.0 innings, but Sams would strike again facing left-hander Clinton Dempster in the ninth.

With two gone and none on, Sams drove Dempster's pitch into the trees beyond the center-field fence for his second blast of the game - team-leading 10th of the season - raising the lead to 8-1. It was just the second multi-homer game posted by a LumberKing this season, following Wiswall's two-homer game on June 4 at Lake County.

Fernandez coasted until the bottom of the ninth when he allowed a single to Perez and watched as Ramirez botched a double-play ball from Gonzales. That set up Ortiz's RBI single to right, cutting the lead to 8-2 and forcing Fernandez from the game. Arias came on after and got three-straight outs, stranding runners at the corners.

While Morris and Sams led the 10-hit attack, every LumberKing aside from Carlton Tanabe had either a run scored or an RBI. The win secured Clinton's fifth series victory in six tries this half and also put them back alone in second place in the West, just 2.0 games behind first-place Kane County (13-5).

The LumberKings have off tomorrow for the MLB All-Star Game and return to action on Wednesday as they open a six-game homestand at Alliant Energy Field. Right-hander Taijuan Walker (3-4, 2.76) takes on the Great Lakes Loons (10-8) in game one and is opposed by left-hander Ryan Christenson (7-5, 4.14). First pitch is scheduled for 7:00 PM, 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 July 11, 2011


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