MWL1 Clinton LumberKings

Moreland Steals Show in Murphy's Debut

Published on August 17, 2008 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Clinton LumberKings News Release


Clinton, IA - While left-hander Tim Murphy's debut was the story prior to the game, it was a pair of homers and four RBI by league RBI leader Mitch Moreland that ultimately had the Alliant Energy Field fans in awe as the Clinton LumberKings downed the Peoria Chiefs 8-5 Sunday afternoon.

The Texas Rangers' third-round pick out of UCLA this year, Murphy tossed 5.0 strong innings in his first start with the LumberKings, finishing with a line marred only by Chiefs' left-fielder Rebel Ridling. Ridling lifted a solo homer to left in the second inning and added an RBI groundout in the fourth. Murphy (W, 1-0) gave up just those two runs on five hits, walking two while striking out three.

Clinton plated three runs in the third to erase a 1-0 deficit. Engel Beltre and Matt Lawson both drew walks from erratic right-hander Josh Whitlock (L, 0-2), and Tim Smith scorched a triple to the right-center gap to plate them both. Moreland got his day started with a solid double to left, sending Smith home.

With piggyback starter Jose Pina on in the fifth, Moreland busted out the power stroke. With Smith on and two outs, he belted a ball over the wood wall in center to give the Kings a 5-2 lead. It was the 16th clout of the year, providing his league-leading 90 and 91st RBI.

Moreland wouldn't wait long to add to both totals. Facing Chiefs' catcher-turned-reliever Jake Muyco in the seventh, he parked one into the right-field Lumber Lounge for #17, a solo homer that made it 7-3. The blast also provided his 92nd RBI, tying him with Tod Ronson for fifth in Clinton franchise history. Ronson also drove in 92 RBI for the 1987 Clinton Giants.

The Chiefs made things interesting against left-hander Joseph Ortiz in the eighth, scoring two runs on another home run by Ridling, but again the Kings answered with a run of their own in the bottom of the inning. Beltre slapped a flare single into center, scoring Miguel Alfonzo from second for an 8-5 lead.

With the bases loaded and two outs in the eighth, Moreland again stepped to the plate, looking for his third home run. He got just under a Muyco pitch, flying out to center to finish the day 3-for-5 with four RBI.

Ortiz gave up a leadoff single to Josh Harrison and walked Jovan Rosa to allow the tying run to come to the plate in the ninth, but struck out Brandon Guyer and then induced Luis Bautista into a 5-3 groundout to end the game.

Lost in the shuffle but equally as impressive, Smith's third-inning triple extended his hitting streak to 17 games, now just one back of the longest on the club this season (Renny Osuna's 18-game streak from June 5-25).

The game was also watched by Rangers' first-round pick Justin Smoak (wearing #28), who arrived in time for the first pitch but was not yet placed on the active roster. Smoak is expected to make his professional debut tomorrow night in Peoria.

The four-game home-and-home series between the LumberKings (29-27) and Chiefs (26-30) moves to O'Brien Field in Peoria, first pitch scheduled for 7 PM Monday night. 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 17, 2008


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