MWL1 Clinton LumberKings

L'Kings Post Consecutive W's for 1st Time in 5 Weeks, Beat Chiefs 4-2

Published on July 9, 2014 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Clinton LumberKings News Release


Peoria, IL - Excellent pitching, three defensive double plays, a leaping catch by Chantz Mack, and a little bit of luck gave the Clinton LumberKings (7- 10, 37-48) two straight victories for the first time in over a month Tuesday night at Dozer Park. The LumberKings plated two runs in the second and ninth innings and received a stellar start from Eddie Campbell en route to a tight 4-2 victory over the Peoria Chiefs (11-7, 48-39).

Coming off a league-wide off-day Monday, the LumberKings hoped to continue momentum built from their 2-1, 14-inning walk-off win Sunday against the Kane County Cougars. Against another formidable foe, Clinton did just that.

The LumberKings struck first off of Arturo Reyes (5-5) for two runs in the second. 19-year-old Isaiah Yates launched a 3-1 fastball over the wall in left - his second home run - giving Clinton a 1-0 lead. Then with two outs, Luis Caballero and Aaron Barbosa knocked back-to-back singles. The latter of the two was a run-scoring single to right after Caballero had stolen second base and moved to third on a Reyes throwing error.

Handed a two-run advantage, Campbell (5-6) kept the Chiefs' batters guessing from start to finish. Mixing his fastball, changeup, and curveball, the left- hander rung up eight batters - seven looking - in 6.2 innings. Peoria's only run off of the southpaw was unearned in the bottom of the seventh.

Justin Ringo led off that frame with a towering pop-up on the infield which L'Kings first baseman Justin Seager couldn't handle. Ringo raced to second, and Carson Kelly drove him home two pitches later with an RBI double to right-center. Despite the tying run reaching second base with no outs, Campbell maintained his composure. And his left fielder showed similar poise on a deep fly ball.

With Kelly at second, Chiefs shortstop Juan Herrera blasted a drive to left and Mack - who dropped a routine fly ball Sunday afternoon against Kane County - leapt up against the padded fence, taking away extra bases and preserving the one-run lead. Campbell then dueled with Steve Bean before ringing up the Chiefs' designated hitter on his 90th pitch. Rafael Pineda came on in relief and struck out Luis Perez, ending the inning.

Clinton scored two insurance runs in the ninth, which proved to be vitally important. Peoria right-hander Robert Stock walked Brett Thomas, served up a single to Yates, and then attempted to get the force out at third base on a Lonnie Kauppila sacrifice bunt. But Stock 's throw was late of Thomas, and sacrifice flies by Luis Caballero and Jack Reinheimer gave the LumberKings their largest lead of the night, 4-1.

Pineda came on for the bottom of the ninth seeking his fourth save, but the right-hander gave up three singles, two which didn't leave the infield. He struck out Justin Ringo but after Juan Herrera's RBI infield single to third, gave way to left-hander Nick Valenza. Brought on to face the left-handed hitting Bean, Valenza fell behind 3-0 in the count. Two fastballs - both called strikes - worked the count to 3-2, and Bean then grounded a one-hop smash to Reinheimer at short. Reinheimer dove to his left, snagged the ball, delivered a backhanded flip to Kauppila who barehanded and fired to Seager at first ahead of Bean. The double play was the last of three twin-killers turned by Reinheimer and Kauppila, and it gave Clinton the dramatic 4-2 victory.

Both the LumberKings and Chiefs collected seven hits apiece. Clinton was led by the bottom third of their lineup as 7-8-9 hitters Yates, Kauppila, and Caballero each recorded two hits. After failing to pitch beyond the sixth inning in his first 14 starts, Campbell has now pitch ed 6.2, 7.0, and 6.2 innings in each of his last three outings.

The win gave Clinton their first two-game winning streak since June 1st and 2nd when they won 18-4 and 10-1 at Beloit.

The LumberKings look to continue their recent success Wednesday night with righty Carlos Misell (7-8, 4.08) scheduled to start against Chiefs right- hander Alex Reyes (6-5, 4.23). First pitch is scheduled for 7:00 PM CT from Dozer Park. The broadcast can be heard on WCCI 100.3 FM and WCCIRadio.com.

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Midwest League Stories from July 9, 2014


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