MWL1 Clinton LumberKings

Kings Fall Again Despite Franklin's 23rd Homer

Published on September 5, 2010 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Clinton LumberKings News Release


Burlington, IA - Nick Franklin's franchise-record and Midwest League-leading 23rd home run got Clinton off to a good start, but a two-run homer in the seventh by Whit Merrifield tipped the game back to Burlington as the Bees defeated the LumberKings, 6-4 at Community Field.

Franklin lifted his 23rd homer in the first inning, just clearing the left-field fence off right-hander Keaton Hayenga to put the Kings ahead, 1-0. The home run moves him ahead of Dick Kenworthy of the 1961 C-Sox who held the record of 22 by himself for 49 seasons.

Burlington scrapped back to tie the game in the second inning as Deivy Batista coaxed a two-out walk out of right-hander Erasmo Ramirez and scored on a double by Fernando Cruz. Clinton took the lead right back in the fourth inning on a two-out RBI single by Henry Contreras, but none of their leads proved safe all day.

The Bees took a 3-2 lead in the fourth as Ben Theriot doubled home Carlo Testa and later scored on a single by Batista. The seesaw battle continued as the Kings answered with two runs in the fifth. Singles by Gabriel Noriega, James Jones and Franklin loaded the bases against Hayenga. A double-play off the bat of Mickey Wiswall sent Noriega home for the tying run and Vinnie Catricala lined a double to score Jones for the 4-3 lead.

That lead would not hold. Ramirez yielded a two-out single to Hilton Richardson and then exited. Right-hander Brandon Maurer came on and served up Merrifield's two-run homer to left - his fifth of the year - to put Burlington ahead, 5-4.

An error on catcher Henry Contreras pushed across another run in the ninth inning and the Kings couldn't come back. Right-hander Scott Kelley (W, 1-3) tossed 3.0 scoreless innings in relief of Hayenga to finish the game.

Ramirez got another no-decision despite just four runs on five hits over 6.2 innings. Maurer (L, 0-1) ended up taking the loss with two runs, one earned on three hits over 1.1 innings.

The LumberKings must now wait for the results of the game between Beloit and Cedar Rapids to find out if they have clinched the West Division Wild Card spot. The loss does hand the top playoff spot to Kane County, who plays at home against Wisconsin later tonight.

The LumberKings (37-32, 74-64) close out the 2010 regular season at Community Field tomorrow afternoon in the series finale against the Bees (23-43, 45-90) at 2:00 PM. Right-hander Yoervis Medina (5-0, 2.50) is slated to make his seventh start of the year. 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 September 5, 2010


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