MWL1 Clinton LumberKings

Kings Fall to Loons Despite Butler's Gem

Published on July 14, 2011 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Clinton LumberKings News Release


Clinton, IA - Clinton left-hander Tony Butler tied a career high with nine strikeouts over 6.0 scoreless innings and exited with a 1-0 lead, but the LumberKings' bullpen yielded three late runs as the Great Lakes Loons stormed back for a 3-1 win on Thursday night at Alliant Energy Field. A solo home run by Carlos Ramirez in the fifth inning proved to be the only tally for the Kings, who stranded 11 on base.

Butler cruised through the first four innings with seven strikeouts but nearly gave up the game's first run in the fifth. Jon Garcia singled, moved to second on a walk to Michael Pericht and was sent home on a shallow liner to left by Jesse Bosnick. Mickey Wiswall came up firing, throwing a one-bounce strike to catcher Carlton Tanabe who applied the tag for the out. Butler then induced a lineout from David Iden and struck out Casio Grider to end the inning.

The LumberKings took a 1-0 lead for him in the bottom of the fifth as Ramirez lifted a pitch from lefty Greg Wilborn out to the left-field berm. His second solo home run of the season was the only run allowed by Wilborn, who struck out 10 over 5.0 innings.

The bullpen, well-rested after an 8.0-inning outing from lefty Anthony Fernandez on Monday night in Beloit and a 9.0-inning complete game from right-hander Taijuan Walker on Wednesday night against the Loons, struggled to hold the 1-0 advantage. Left-hander Edlando Seco (BS, 1) yielded a leadoff single to Nick Akins in the seventh, another single to Pericht and then walked both Bosnik and Iden to force in the tying run.

Right-hander Tyler Burgoon (L, 5-4) replaced Seco with the bases loaded and one out in the seventh and stranded all three inherited runners, but gave up his own earned run in the eighth. He issued a one-out walk to Chris Jacobs, who was then replaced by pinch-runner Chris Henderson. A single by Akins put runners at the corners and Garcia plated the decisive run with a flare to left.

Right-hander Jessie Nava ceded one more run in the ninth as he walked Iden and allowed him to score on a sacrifice fly by Bobby Coyle.

Loons' right-hander Bret Montgomery (W, 4-1) turned in 3.0 scoreless innings of relief and right-hander Ryan Acosta (S, 2) pitched a scoreless bottom of the ninth, getting Wiswall to ground into a game-ending 6-4-3 double play.

Mike McGee (2-for-4), Ramirez (2-for-4, HR, RBI) and Kalian Sams (2-for-4) all had multi-hit games for the LumberKings, who fell back into a two-way tie with Beloit for second place in the West. Both teams trail Kane County by 1.0 game.

Garcia finished 2-for-4 with the game-winning RBI for the Loons, who snapped a two-game losing streak.

The LumberKings (12-8) and Loons (11-9) conclude the series with game three tomorrow night at Alliant Energy Field, first pitch scheduled for 7:00 PM. Left-hander Nate Reed (2-1, 3.27) starts for Clinton while Great Lakes counters with right-hander Zach Lee (5-3, 3.32). 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 July 14, 2011


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