MWL1 Clinton LumberKings

LumberKings Split Doubleheader with South Bend

Published on July 14, 2016 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Clinton LumberKings News Release


Clinton, IA - On a great night for baseball at Ashford University Field on Thursday, the Clinton LumberKings split an exciting doubleheader with the South Bend Cubs. In game one, the LumberKings got 6.1 shutout innings from Ronald Dominguez, and got some fortunate bounces to shutout the Cubs 3-0. Clinton lead 2-0 in game two until the top of the seventh, when South Bend exploded for five runs in the inning to take a 5-2 lead. The LumberKings would get two in bottom of the seventh, and had a chance to tie, but Donnie Dewees made a diving catch in left center field to end the game and give the Cubs the 5-4 win.

Nobody had scored on Cubs starter Preston Morrison (9-4) in the previous 30.1 innings going into the bottom of the third inning in game one, but the LumberKings decided to change that. Rafael Fernandez started the inning with a line drive single to left. With Luis Liberato up, a hit and run was put on, and Liberato hit the ball to second baseman Carlos Sepulveda, who bobbled it and threw it low to first, allowing Liberato to reach and moving Fernandez to third. South Bend's defense then locked down, as Rayder Ascanio hit a hard ground ball to first that Tyler Alamo fired home to nail Fernandez for the first out of the inning. Then Dalton Kelly hit a potential double play ball to second, but beat out the turn from second to keep the inning alive. Alex Jackson then hit what appeared to be a routine ground ball to shortstop Andruw Monasterio. When the ball hit the lip of the grass, it hopped over Monasterio's head and into left field for a hit, scoring Liberato to get the LumberKings on the board. Conner Hale followed with a base hit to left, plating Kelly to make it 2-0.

From the one out single he allowed in the second, Ronald Dominguez (1-1) dominated, as he retired 12 straight Cubs until Bryant Flete's one out single in the sixth. Carlos Sepulveda then whacked a single to right, moving Flete to third. Dominguez was then assisted by his defense, as Andruw Monasterio hit into a 5-4-3 double play to end the inning.

The LumberKings would add an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth, as Gus Craig struck out with one out, but Morrison's pitch went to the backstop, allowing Craig to reach first. With Logan Taylor, he then stole second, and Taylor drove him home with a single, to extend the lead to 3-0.

Dominguez came back out for the seventh, but was pulled after giving up two one out singles. Matt Walker entered and got the last two men he faced for his third save.

Game two saw the LumberKings yank starter Nick Neidert after only one inning. Kevin Gadea entered, and after walking the leadoff man in the second, got Andruw Monasterio to line into a double play. Gadea allowed two hits in the third, but struck out Donnie Dewees to end the frame.

The LumberKings would strike iron first in the second, as Dalton Kelly singled with one out against Justin Steele. Kelly then went to second on a balk, and Logan Taylor drove him home with a double to right center. Clinton would add another run on in the bottom of the sixth, as after Ricky Eusebio's lead off double, an error with two outs from Monasterio brought home Eusebio to extend the lead to 2-0.

Joey Strain (3-2) came on for the save chance in the seventh, and gave up back to back singles to Monasterio and Jesse Hodges to start the inning. Tyler Alamo then sacrificed both runners up, and Josh Silver hit into a fielders choice that scored Monasterio but forced out Hodges at third. With a 1-2 count, Carlos Sepulveda singled, moving Silver to third. P.J. Higgins needed to get a hit to keep the game alive and did so, sending one just over the glove of Ricky Eusebio in left, scoring both runs to give the Cubs a 3-2. Then Donnie Dewees doubled, scoring Higgins to extend the lead to 4-2, and then Eloy Jimenez knocked a single to left that plated Dewees and lifted Strain from the game.

Casey Bloomquist (7-4) started the seventh for South Bend with a strikeout of Alex Jackson, but a wild pitch allowed him to reach. Dalton Kelly then hit into a fielders choice, forcing out Jackson at second. Bloomquist then hit Logan Taylor, and after a Chris Mariscal single loaded the bases, he was pulled for Dillon Maples. Gus Craig pinch hit for Arturo Nieto, and the second pitch Maples threw went to the backstop, scoring Kelly and moving the other two runners to second and third. Craig walked, and Ricky Eusebio hit into a fielders choice, scoring Taylor to cut the deficit to one. Luis Liberato in a full count and both the tying and winning runs aboard cranked a ball out to left center. Center fielder Donnie Dewees charged in and made a phenomenal catch, robbing the LumberKings of the potential runs and ending the game.

The rubber game of the series is tomorrow at 6:30 PM, as lefty Luiz Gohara (1-0, 0.84) toes the rubber for the LumberKings. South Bend will counter with righty Kyle Miller (4-1, 1.58). Tomorrow night is the David Johnson Bobblehead Giveaway presented by AC Root/Nationwide Insurance and KWQC-TV. Fans are encouraged to arrive early, and you can get your tickets by visiting www.lumberkings.com, calling 563-242-0727 or by stopping by the box office at Ashford University Field.

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