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MWL1 Clinton LumberKings

Sams Homers Three Times, Including 11th Inning Walk-Off

April 17, 2010 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Clinton LumberKings News Release


Clinton, IA - Kalian Sams homered three times, delivering the game-tying solo blast to left field in the eighth and hammering the walk-off winner to straightaway center in the bottom of the 11th, leading the Clinton LumberKings to an 11-10 win over the Quad Cities River Bandits Friday night at Alliant Energy Field.

Sams' 3-for-6, three-RBI game helped the LumberKings overcome a 9-1 deficit to the Bandits and was his second walk-off homer already this season.

Down 4-0 in the second, Sams homered to left off Bandits' starter Shelby Miller, putting Clinton on the board. Quad Cities struck back for five runs in the third inning, including four runs on a grand slam by Luis Mateo.

The Kings would strike for two runs in the fourth inning on an RBI double by Brandon Bantz and an RBI single by Nick Franklin, cutting the deficit to 9-3. Dennis Raben lifted a solo home run to center in the fifth, and a five-run seventh brought the LumberKings back to within a run. Mario Martinez lined a two-run double to left in the inning, and Bantz and Franklin drove home runs again as well.

Trailing 10-9 in the eighth, Sams ripped a low line-drive just over the wall in left, knotting the game at 10-10. Bandits' closer Jesse Simpson served up the shot to suffer his first blown save of the season.

Still tied in the 11th, Sams belted an Aaron Terry (L, 0-1) pitch over the wood wall in center, sending a frenzied mob to the plate.

Right-hander Brandon Josselyn (W, 1-0) worked 2.0 scoreless relief innings for the win. Starter Jon Hesketh was battered for nine runs over just 2.2 innings, but left-hander Nick Czyz tossed 3.1 scoreless frames and righty Chris Kirkland yielded an unearned run over 3.0 innings to give the offense a chance.

Bantz (3-for-4, 3 RBI), Franklin (3-for-6, 2 RBI), Martinez (2-for-5, 2 RBI) and Sams all drove in at least two runs in the winning effort.

The LumberKings (5-4) open a road series with the Beloit Snappers tomorrow evening at Pohlman Field, first pitch scheduled for 4:00 PM. Right-hander Taylor Stanton (1-0, 4.50) makes his second start of the season. Listen to the game on AM 1390 KCLN or www.lumberkings.com.

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Midwest League Stories from April 17, 2010


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