MWL1 Clinton LumberKings

Moreland Does the Rattling with Walk-off Single

Published on August 5, 2008 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Clinton LumberKings News Release


Clinton, IA - After giving up a 4-2 lead with two outs in the top of the ninth inning, the Clinton LumberKings redeemed themselves thanks to league RBI leader Mitch Moreland. His walk-off single to left field plated Davis Stoneburner as the Kings recovered for a 5-4 win over the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers Tuesday night.

Moreland's heroics came after Stoneburner started the ninth with a liner to the right-center gap for a leadoff double off Rattlers' righty Jose Escalona. Engel Beltre dropped down a perfect bunt single in front of home plate, putting runners at the corners with no outs.

After Escalona (L, 2-3) froze Matt Lawson for strike three, Moreland stepped in with the infield drawn close, lifting the ball just out of the reach of left-fielder Alex Meneses. The walk-off single also provided his league-leading 77th RBI.

The LumberKings had entered the ninth with a 4-2 lead, having escaped a bases-loaded jam already in the eighth. Closer Adalberto Flores started on the wrong foot, walking Denny Almonte to start the inning. After striking out Alex Liddi and inducing Juan Diaz into a foul flyout, Flores (W, 3-1) walked both Blake Ochoa and pinch-hitter Joe White before serving up a two-run single to Daniel Carroll.

The third blown save for Flores took right-hander Ryan Tatusko off the hook for the win. Tatusko was impressive all night long, taking a perfect game into the fifth inning and settling with two runs (one earned) on three hits over a season-high 7.0 innings. He walked none and struck out four.

The Kings grabbed Tatusko an early lead on Tim Smith's second-inning homer into the right-field Lumber Lounge, his seventh blast of the year. The Rattlers answered in the fifth, taking a 2-1 lead as Almonte singled softly up the middle to plate Joe Dunigan and Ochoa drove home Almonte with a single to center.

Moreland's first RBI of the night was also big, as he tied the score at 2-2 with a grounder through the right side. Beltre came around to score from second, his league-leading 79th run.

A two-run seventh put Clinton back in front. A walk to Jose Felix and RBI double by Kyle Murphy chased Wisconsin starter Keith Renaud from the ballgame and brought on reliever Joe Kantakevich. After an infield single by Beltre, Lawson followed up with a squeeze bunt, scoring Murphy from third.

Murphy lead all hitters with his first three-hit game of the season, finishing 3-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI. Beltre, Moreland and Smith all had two-hit games for the LumberKings.

Ochoa finished 2-for-3 to lead Wisconsin. Carroll drove in two RBI on a 1-for-5 night, while Almonte scored twice, going 1-for-3.

The LumberKings (23-21) and Timber Rattlers (13-31) continue the series tomorrow night at Alliant Energy Field, first pitch scheduled for 7:00 PM. Listen to the game on AM 1340 KROS in Clinton or live on the web at www.lumberkings.com.

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Midwest League Stories from August 5, 2008


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