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MWL1 Clinton LumberKings

LumberKings Sweep Doubleheader, 13-3, 11-2 in Peoria

May 11, 2010 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Clinton LumberKings News Release


Peoria, IL - The Clinton offense awoke with six home runs over two games, completing a doubleheader sweep of the Peoria Chiefs with 13-3 and 11-2 wins Tuesday afternoon at O'Brien Field. Mario Martinez went 3-for-3 with a home run and six RBI to help the cause in game one, while Henry Contreras went 3-for-3 with a home run and two RBI to lead the offense in game two.

Martinez lined a two-run single to center off right-hander Rob Whitenack, staking the Kings to a 4-0 lead in the first inning. Vinnie Catricala added a solo home run just inside the left-field foul pole in the third inning, extending the lead to 5-1.

Right-hander Erasmo Ramirez served up a two-run homer to Justin Bour in the bottom of the third as the Chiefs closed to within two runs, but an RBI double by James Jones pushed the lead to 7-3.

Shaver Hansen lined his third single of the day, scoring Brandon Bantz and Welington Dotel for a 10-3 lead in the fifth inning, and Martinez drove home three more runs with a blast to the left-field berm in the sixth. Martinez's third homer of the year (also his third against the Chiefs) gave Clinton a 13-3 lead.

Ramirez (W, 1-2) earned his first U.S. win, limiting Peoria to three runs, two earned over 6.0 innings. Left-hander Jose Jimenez pitched a scoreless non-save seventh inning.

Whitenack (L, 2-2) took the loss, yielding 10 runs, seven earned on 12 hits over 4.2 innings.

Game one saw the LumberKings tie their season-high for hits in a game (17) over just seven innings. Aside from Martinez's six RBI, Hansen also finished 3-for-4 with two RBI and Bantz went 3-for-4 with three runs scored.

The Kings again got off to a quick start in game two. Dotel tripled and scored on a single by Catricala for a 1-0 lead in the first inning.

Contreras, making his first start of the year, came up big in his first at-bat an inning later. He doubled off the left-field wall, plating Jones from second for a 2-0 lead. The LumberKings would make it 3-0 against Peoria lefty Jeff Antigua on a sacrifice fly by Gabriel Noriega.

Clinton scored five runs to chase Antigua from the game in the third inning. Jones and Matt Cerione each belted two-run homers and Martinez added an RBI single.

Contreras lifted his first home run of the season to the left-field berm in the fifth inning, giving the LumberKings a 9-0 lead. They'd make it 11-0 on a two-run shot to right-center by Dennis Raben in the sixth, his eighth of the season.

Left-hander Anthony Vasquez (W, 2-2) allowed his first earned run since April 19, but just that one run on three hits over 6.0 innings. He walked none while striking out six, keeping his ERA at a Midwest League-best 0.84. Lefty Brian Moran allowed an unearned run on two hits in the seventh.

Antigua (L, 0-2) gave up eight runs, seven earned on eight hits over 3.0 innings. Right-hander Larry Suarez allowed another run, while lefty James Leverton yielded his first two earned runs of the season over 2.0 innings.

Contreras finished 3-for-3 with three runs scored and two RBI to lead the game two charge. Cerione, Jones and Raben all homered and drove in two RBI each as well.

Tuesday marked the first time the LumberKings have swept a doubleheader since taking two from West Michigan on April 12, 2008 at Alliant Energy Field. Martinez's six-RBI game was also the first by a Clinton hitter since Ian Gac did it on May 4, 2008 at Kane County (2-for-5, 2 HR, 6 RBI).

The LumberKings (15-18) and Chiefs (19-14) close out the series tomorrow night at O'Brien Field, first pitch scheduled for 6:30 PM. Right-hander Tyler Blandford (1-2, 3.96) will make his seventh start of the year. Listen to the game on AM 1390 KCLN in Clinton or live on the web at 1390kcln.com.

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