MWL1 Clinton LumberKings

Kings Edged by Cougars Despite Walker's Gem

Published on June 17, 2011 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Clinton LumberKings News Release


Geneva, IL - Clinton right-hander Taijuan Walker tied a career high with 11 strikeouts over 7.0 innings and allowed just two hits, but one of those hits drove in the lone run of the game as Kane County edged the LumberKings 1-0 Friday night at Elfstrom Stadium.

Cougars' left-fielder Brian Fletcher led off the second with a double down the third-base line out of the reach of Matt Browning. A wild pitch moved him to third, but Walker struck out the next two hitters - Jake Kuebler and Geulin Beltre - to have a shot at stranding Fletcher. Instead, Orlando Calixte singled into right, scoring Fletcher for a 1-0 Kane County lead.

Walker (L, 2-3) never let another Cougar reach scoring position as he matched his season and career-high with 11 strikeouts and walked only two. The 18-year-old Seattle Mariners' first-round pick lowered his ERA from 2.61 to 2.40 in his fourth quality start of the year, yet received no offensive support.

The LumberKings again had their hands full with Cougars' right-hander Leonel Santiago. Already 2-0 in his previous two starts against the Kings, Santiago (W, 5-6) was again dominant over 6.0 innings. Three of Clinton's five hits off him came in their lone threat in the fourth as Mickey Wiswall, Kalian Sams and Shaver Hansen all singled to load the bases. Robbie Anston worked the count full against Santiago, but bounced his 3-2 pitch back to him on the mound for the final out of the inning.

The Cougars sent right-hander Chaz Byrne (S, 4) out for the final 3.0 innings and he encountered only one baserunner - Anthony Phillips reaching on third-baseman Ryan Stovall's fielding error - while striking out four.

Kings' right-hander Tyler Blandford gave up two hits and had runners at the corners with none out in the bottom of the eighth, but worked his way out of trouble. Calixte was retired at the plate by drawn-in shortstop Phillips, Blandford then gathered a roller back to the mound from Angel Franco and threw to second for a force out and struck out Stovall to end the threat.

Wiswall, Morris, Sams, Hansen and Anston all had a hit apiece for the LumberKings, who were shut out for the seventh time this season. Calixte went 2-for-3 with the RBI single for Kane County.

The LumberKings (22-46) and Cougars (28-39) continue the final series of the first half with game two tomorrow night at Elfstrom Stadium, first pitch scheduled for 6:00 PM. Left-hander Anthony Fernandez (1-2, 5.16) makes the start for Clinton while Kane County answers with right-hander Yordano Ventura (1-1, 4.32). 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 June 17, 2011


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