MWL1 Clinton LumberKings

Kings Fall Flat in Opener at Burlington

Published on September 4, 2010 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Clinton LumberKings News Release


Burlington, IA - Burlington scored five runs over the first two innings and never looked back, sending the Clinton LumberKings to a 6-1 loss at Community Field in the opener of the final series of the regular season. Despite the loss, the Kings remain 1.5 games ahead of Beloit for the West Division Wild Card spot with two games to play.

The game got off to an inauspicious start for the LumberKings as third-baseman Mario Martinez committed a three-base throwing error that put Bees' leadoff-hitter Whit Merrifield at third base with none out. Alex McClure followed with an RBI single to send Merrifield home for a 1-0 Burlington lead. Right-hander Taylor Stanton yielded another single and a walk to load the bases, then gave up sacrifice flies to Ben Theriot and Danny Batista as Clinton fell behind, 3-0.

Stanton (L, 12-7) allowed two more runs in the second and lasted just one more inning. Two of the five runs he allowed were earned on five hits over his 3.0 innings. Left-hander Nick Czyz ate up four innings in relief, giving up another RBI single to McClure in the fourth but nothing more while striking out two.

The Clinton bats struggled against Bees' right-hander Tyler Sample despite drawing six walks over his 5.1 innings. Sample (W, 6-10) scattered three hits and struck out seven, stranding seven LumberKings on base.

The Kings ended the shutout against right-hander Mitch Hodge in the seventh as James Jones drew a leadoff walk and eventually scored on a wild pitch. Hodge left two on base in the inning, striking out Blake Ochoa to keep a 6-1 lead in tact.

After Hodge's exit, right-hander Matt Morizio came on to finish the job with two scoreless innings.

McClure finished 2-for-4 with a run and two RBI to lead the Bees. Merrifield (2-for-5, double, run) and Hilton Richardson (2-for-4, double, 2 runs) also had multi-hit games for Burlington (22-43, 44-90).

While it doesn't affect Clinton's standing in the Wild Card race, the loss does drop the LumberKings (37-31, 74-63) to 1.5 games behind Kane County for the West Division's top playoff spot. The series against the Bees continues tomorrow afternoon with day baseball at 2:00 PM. Right-hander Erasmo Ramirez (10-4, 2.86) will make his 23rd start of the season. Listen to the game on AM 1390 KCLN in Clinton or live online at 1390kcln.com.

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