MWL1 Clinton LumberKings

L'Kings Can't Hold 4-0 Lead, Lose 5-4 to Cougars

June 5, 2014 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Clinton LumberKings News Release


Geneva, IL - The Clinton LumberKings (29-28) squandered an early 4-0 advantage after three innings and lost for the seventh time in extra innings, 5-4 to the Kane County Cougars (39-20) in 10 innings Wednesday night at Fifth Third Bank Ballpark.

Clinton started hot out of the game, handing Kane County ace Paul Blackburn his worst start of the season. The right-hander recorded just two outs in the first inning, walking three batters. Both Zach Shank and Ian Miller crossed home, the first on Austin Wilson's run-scoring fielder's choice and Miller moments later on a Marcus Littlewood sacrifice fly.

Up 2-0, the L'Kings added single runs off of Cougars reliever James Pugliese in both the second and third innings. In the second, Jeff Zimmerman led off with a double into the right-field corner and the first baseman moved to third one out later on a Shank single to center. Miller then brought home the Illinois native with a sacrifice fly.

Wilson opened the third with his eighth home run - a towering solo shot to left off of Pugliese - but that was it for Clinton offensively. A one-out bunt single by Shank in the fourth was Clinton's only base runner until Joe DeCarlo hit a two-out single in the eighth.

While Clinton's offense went silent, Kane County's slowly began to awake. The Cougars got two runs in the fourth after Clinton failed to finish off a 6 -4 fielder's choice for a double play, and Kane County made Flores pay. Following the fielder's choice, two singles and Littlewood's fifth passed ball of the season resulted in two runs.

Down 4-2, Kane County quickly knotted the game at four in the fifth. Jake Hanneman and Danny Lockhart both doubled leading o ff the frame, knocking Flores out of the game. Right-hander Rafael Pineda came on and got two groundouts to short, but Hannemann and Lockhart scored on the consecutive 6-3 putouts.

Flores - who had defeated the Cougars in his previous two starts - allowed four earned runs on seven hits and one walk, but had to settle for a no- decision.

The teams traded zeroes from the sixth inning through the ninth. Clinton's Pineda retired all six batters he faced and Thyago Vieira worked around a one- out double in the ninth. Kane County's Shawon Dunston, Jr. bounced a double over Zimmerman at first with one out but was doubled up at second base on a game-saving diving catch by L'Kings' third baseman Martin Peguero.

Clinton went quietly in the tenth and in the home half, Kane County gave the LumberKings their fifth walk-off loss and seventh loss in 10 extra-inning games. Hannemann doubled into the left-field corner and moved to third on a Lockhart bunt. With the infield playing in, Ben Carhart bounced out to Jack Reinheimer at short for the first out. Aaron Brooks (2-2) then intentionally walked Jordan Hankins, loading the bases for Yasiel Balaguert.

Brooks needed a double play or a strikeout. Instead, he got a fielder's choice.

Balaguert grounded to the six-hole at short, and Reinheimer, after a diving stop, threw for the force out at third. But Peguero was left with no chance at any other force out on the high chopper, and a Cougars mob of Balaguert at first base ensued.

Shank extended his hitting streak to 10 games, going 2-for-3 with a walk. He was also beaned in the ninth. Wilson's third inning homer also extended his hit streak to seven games.

Peoria and Quad Cities were both beaten Wednesday night as well, keeping the LumberKings 1.5 games out of the wild card with 11 first-half games remaining.

The LumberKings continue their current series Thursday night against Kane County, playing the middle game of a three-game set with the Cougars.

Righty Lars Huijer (2-4, 3.78) will start for Clinton and will be opposed by right-hander Tyler Skulina (3-2, 2.92) who will make his third straight start against the L'Kings. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 PM CT at Fifth Third Bank Ballpark. The game can be heard on WCCI 100.3 FM, wcciradio.com, and lumberkings.com.

Check out the Clinton LumberKings Statistics



Midwest League Stories from June 5, 2014


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