MWL1 Clinton LumberKings

Kings Ride Six-Run First, Rout Kernels

Published on July 8, 2011 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Clinton LumberKings News Release


Clinton, IA - The Clinton offense scored six times in the first inning including twice on a double by Kevin Rivers and added five runs in the eighth inning as the LumberKings routed the Cedar Rapids Kernels, 11-3 on Friday night at Alliant Energy Field.

Carlos Ramirez greeted Kernels' right-hander Brian Diemer with an opposite-field single to left to open the bottom of the first inning. Mickey Wiswall singled with one out and a hit-by-pitch for Stefen Romero loaded the bases. Tim Morris sent a grounder between the legs of first-baseman Jeremy Cruz, scoring both Ramirez and Wiswall for a 2-0 lead.

Mike McGee added a line drive to left scoring Romero, and Rivers launched a double off the wood wall in center to score both Morris and McGee. The sixth and final run of the inning came home as Diemer was called for a balk by home plate umpire Mario Seneca, scoring Rivers. The six runs matched a season-high for one inning for the Clinton offense, tying their fifth-inning output in game one of a doubleheader against Kane County on April 17.

Left-hander Tony Butler, making his first start at Alliant Energy Field since a win for the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers on August 31, 2007, struck out seven Kernels and allowed just two hits over his first five innings. In the sixth, the Kernels chased Butler from the game as Jean Almanzar singled and scored on a groundout by Rolando Gomez and Justin Bass ripped a single to right-center scoring Chris Giovinazzo and Cruz. Butler (W, 1-0) yielded three earned runs on six hits over 5.1 innings.

Lefty Edlando Seco (H, 3) stranded two inherited runners for Butler in the sixth inning, then struck out two of the three he faced in a scoreless seventh. Right-hander Tyler Burgoon struck out two of the three batters he took on in the eighth as well, then received a huge helping of insurance runs.

Facing right-hander Justin La Tempa in the eighth, Matt Browning reached on a hit-by-pitch and Wiswall singled for the second time. A wild pitch advanced both runners and Morris was then intentionally walked to load the bases. La Tempa came out in favor of right-hander Donn Roach, who then walked McGee to force in Browning. Rivers lifted a sacrifice fly to left scoring Wiswall, and after a walk by Anthony Phillips re-loaded the bases, Carlton Tanabe delivered the knock-out punch with a two-run single to center.

Burgoon (S, 10) then closed the door with a perfect ninth including two more strikeouts.

Diemer (L, 7-6) lost with six runs - four earned - on five hits over 7.0 innings. After the six-run first inning, Diemer retired 18-straight batters before the streak was broken up by a Phillips' single in the seventh. La Tempa and Roach combined to allow five runs over the final inning.

Rivers finished 1-for-3 with the double and three RBI, his first multi-RBI effort since June 9 vs. Dayton. McGee went 1-for-3 with two runs scored and two RBI and Tanabe added two RBI on 1-for-4 hitting for the LumberKings. Clinton has won four of five series so far this half and remain tied for second place in the West Division.

The Kernels received a 2-for-4, two-RBI game from Bass and not much else on the night offensively.

The LumberKings (9-6) now head to Beloit's Pohlman Field for a three-game set against the Snappers (9-6) beginning tomorrow night at 7:00 PM. Left-hander Nate Reed (1-1, 2.89) starts for Clinton against Beloit right-hander Blayne Weller (4-3, 4.23). 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 8, 2011


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