MWL1 Clinton LumberKings

Kings Erupt for Nine Runs in 7th, Beat Lansing

Published on July 18, 2011 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Clinton LumberKings News Release


Clinton, IA - The Clinton offense mustered just two runs on two hits over the first six innings against Lansing pitchers, but the LumberKings erupted for nine runs on seven hits in the seventh to beat the Lugnuts 11-5 on a steamy Monday morning at Alliant Energy Field. Robbie Anston's two-run double put the Kings ahead while a two-run single by Mike McGee and two-run homer by Mickey Wiswall broke the game open.

Lansing took a 2-0 lead in the first inning on right-hander Taijuan Walker as Michael Crouse singled to left on the game's first pitch and took third on a two-base fielding error by Anston in left. Eli Boike doubled down the left-field line to score Crouse and later came home on a sacrifice fly by Matt Nuzzo.

Clinton cut the lead to 2-1 as Anston drew a leadoff walk from right-hander Marcus Walden and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Wiswall. The Lugnuts would go up by three, however, on a two-run single by catcher Luis Hurtado in the fourth. Wiswall answered with an RBI double to score McGee in the bottom of the fourth, bringing the deficit back down to two.

Walker, coming off a complete-game victory over Great Lakes, worked just 5.0 innings this time out. He allowed four runs, three earned on six hits and struck out four.

Right-hander Matt Bischoff, pitching with Clinton for the first time since May 2, yielded a solo home run to Crouse in the top of the seventh that put the Kings behind 5-2.

Lansing right-hander Dayton Marze, fresh off a perfect sixth inning, was greeted in the seventh by a leadoff flare single to right by Stefen Romero. A passed ball moved him to second and a grounder into right off the bat of Tim Morris scored him to make it a 5-3 game. Kevin Rivers walked, Jetsy Extrano reached on a bunt single and Anthony Phillips worked a bases-loaded walk to force Marze from the game.

Right-hander Shawn Griffith, the winning pitcher in game one of the series, came on holding a 5-4 lead but inheriting the bases loaded with no outs. He'd walk Carlton Tanabe to tie the game, then yielded Anston's double past drawn-in first-baseman K.C. Hobson scoring both Extrano and Phillips. The clutch hit by Anston - his only hit of the game - gave the LumberKings a sudden 7-5 advantage.

McGee singled to right to score Tanabe and Anston and Wiswall, named before the game as the "Subway Slugger of the Game," cleared the right-center fence for a two-run homer to raise the lead to 11-5. Wiswall's eighth blast highlighted Clinton's biggest single inning of the season, eclipsing their previous high of six runs (accomplished four times).

Bischoff (W, 1-2) struck out five over 3.0 innings and right-hander Jonathan Arias struck out the side in order in a non-save ninth. Meanwhile, Marze (L, 3-5) was credited with the loss for the Lugnuts as a result of five earned runs and Griffith gave up four more over an inning in a blown save.

Wiswall led all hitters, going 2-for-3 with a double, home run and four RBI. Anston and McGee each went 1-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBI for the LumberKings, who snapped a four-game losing streak with the victory.

Lansing saw a five-game winning streak halted despite a 2-for-4, two-RBI game from Hurtado.

The LumberKings (13-11) have off on Tuesday and begin a six-game East Division road trip on Wednesday as they open a three-game series against the South Bend Silver Hawks (9-14). First pitch from Coveleski Stadium is scheduled for 6:00 PM CT. Left-hander Tony Butler (1-0, 1.62) gets the game one nod for Clinton as South Bend counters with right-hander Mike Bolsinger (2-4, 2.96). 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 18, 2011


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