MWL1 Clinton LumberKings

LumberKings Blank Chiefs, 4-0

May 9, 2014 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Clinton LumberKings News Release


Clinton, IA - The LumberKings picked up right where they left off from a 20-17 stunner over the Burlington Bees Wednesday night. Back at Ashford University Field, the LumberKings instead scored first, avoided a large deficit, and won convincingly over the visiting Peoria Chiefs Thursday evening, 4-0.

After numerous player and coach interviews following Wednesday's thriller - which has spread to the likes of ESPN, ABC, the Associated Press, and CBS Seattle, amongst others - Clinton maintained focus opening a 10-game home stand over 11 days.

The Peoria Chiefs, coming off a series loss to a struggling Beloit team, came in with ice cold bats. The Chiefs were shut out in three straight games spanning Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. Peoria dropped 3-0 and 2-0 games in Cedar Rapids before returning home and being blanked by Beloit, 1-0.

Things didn't get any easier for the Chiefs against L'Kings right-hander Lars Huijer.

After playing 12 innings Friday night, using four relievers and an infielder in relief in Burlington, the LumberKings desperately needed a quality start from Huijer.

And they got it.

Huijer stifled the Chiefs batters through seven, three-hit, shutout innings. The right-hander induced two double play ground balls, walked one, hit a batter, and struck out two.

Peoria righty Silfredo Garcia (2-3) matched Huijer through three innings, but allowed runs in each of the next three innings. Clinton jumped in front 1-0 in the fourth, behind the speed of Ian Miller. The L'Kings' leadoff man reached on a bunt single and sprinted to third after Peoria catcher Carson Kelly threw past first base to the Chiefs bullpen in right. Moments later, Garcia uncorked the first of his two wild pitches, allowing Miller to score.

Clinton loaded the bases with no outs in the fifth, but only got one run to go up 2-0. Miller slapped his second of three singles to left, scoring Corey Simpson from third. Justin Seager was thrown out at the plate to end the inning, but Clinton doubled their lead with two runs in the sixth. Burt Reynolds extended his hitting streak to 11 with a two-run triple, completing the scoring for both clubs.

Huijer entered in the seventh and allowed a leadoff single. The next batter, Kelly, drilled a liner back at Huijer off his right calf, sending the L'Kings right-hander hobbling to foul territory. The ball caromed back to Marcus Littlewood who finished the 1-2-3 putout. Huijer (2-1) stayed in the game and allowed another single but managed to escape on a fly out and groundout.

Thyago Vieira entered in the eighth and struck out four of the six batters he faced, completing the shutout.

The LumberKings now sit just one game back of second place in the MWL Western Division.

Clinton and Peoria meet for game two of their three-game set tomorrow evening, beginning at 6:30 PM CT at Ashford University Field. Right-hander Edwin Diaz (1-1, 3.86) will go for the LumberKings and will be opposed by right-hander Blake McKnight (1-1, 6.63). The broadcast can be heard on WCCI -100.3 FM, wcciradio.com, and lumberkings.com.

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Midwest League Stories from May 9, 2014


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