Ochoa's Seven RBI Not Enough in Lansing
July 24, 2010 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Clinton LumberKings News Release
Lansing, MI - In a game that pitted father against son, Clinton's manager John Tamargo, Sr. against acting manager John Tamargo, Jr. of Lansing, offense took center stage as the Lugnuts pounded out 12 runs on 16 hits in a 12-7 win over the LumberKings. Blake Ochoa homered twice and drove in all seven runs for Clinton but could not halt a fifth-straight loss.
Ochoa started his massive night with a bases-loaded sacrifice fly to center in the second inning. His drive nearly cleared the head of center-fielder Kenny Wilson, but his diving play took away what could have been a double. Still, Tim Morris tagged and scored to cut an early deficit to 2-1.
Lansing scored early and often against left-hander Nick Czyz, pushing two runs across in the first, adding another in the third and ending his night with two more in the fourth. Czyz (L, 2-2) allowed all five runs as earned over 4.0 innings as five different Lugnuts drove in runs.
Trailing 5-1 in the fifth, Ochoa again stepped to the dish with a runner on base. He plated himself and Mario Martinez with a drive to the berm in left, his second home run since joining Clinton. That brought the LumberKings back to within two runs.
Right-hander Ryan Moorer took to the hill in the fifth looking to keep the game close, but would yield six runs on four hits while getting just one out. Following a bases-loaded walk to Justin Jackson, Moorer gave up an RBI single to Eric Eiland, two-run double to Kevin Nolan and then exited. Right-hander Taylor Lewis allowed a sacrifice fly to Sean Ochinko, extending Lansing's lead to 11-3.
Still, that lead wasn't safe for right-hander Ryan Shopshire. He loaded the bases up in the top of the sixth, then faced Ochoa for the third time. On a 2-1 pitch, Ochoa dropped the back shoulder and powered a towering grand slam just inside the left-field foul pole for his second homer of the game. That clout brought the Kings back within four runs at 11-7.
The Lugnuts would add another run on Lewis before the offense finally calmed down. Right-handers Daniel Cooper, Brandon Josselyn and Jorden Merry would combine on 2.2 scoreless innings the rest of the way.
The offense quieted down for the LumberKings as well. Left-hander Aaron Loup struck out three - including Ochoa in his final at-bat - over 2.1 innings. Shopshire (W, 7-8) ended up with the win despite seven runs, two earned on nine hits over 6.2 innings.
Ochoa's 2-for-3, seven RBI night is the most by a LumberKing this season. No other Clinton player added to the offense. Meanwhile, every Lansing starter had at least one RBI, lead by Nolan's 3-for-5, three-RBI game.
The LumberKings have now lost five-straight games for the first time this season and are a game below .500 for the first time in the second half. Clinton (13-14) continues the series tomorrow afternoon against Lansing (16-12) with the first pitch scheduled for 1:05 PM central time. Right-hander Erasmo Ramirez (6-4, 2.90) will make his 15th start of the season against the Lugnuts. Listen live on AM 1390 KCLN in Clinton or on the web at 1390kcln.com.
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