MWL1 Clinton LumberKings

Taijuan Walker wins fifth start as LumberKings beat Wisconsin, 6-1

Published on August 5, 2011 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Clinton LumberKings News Release


Grand Chute, WI - Home runs by John Hicks and Stefen Romero helped Clinton grab a 6-0 lead and right-hander Taijuan Walker allowed a run over 5.0 innings as the LumberKings earned a series split with a 6-1 win over the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers on Friday night at Time Warner Cable Field.

For the second-straight game, the LumberKings scored in the top of the first and never trailed. Carlos Ramirez reached on a one-out single, moved to third on a single by Kevin Rivers and then scored as he stole third base and kept on going on a throwing error by catcher Joey Paciorek.

A three-run second inning effectively broke the game open for the Kings. Tim Morris drew a leadoff walk from Rattlers' left-hander Charly Bashara and stood on base for Hicks. He ripped a Bashara offering high over the left-field fence and into the trees for his first professional home run, raising the advantage to 3-0.

Anthony Phillips followed with a single in that same inning and stole his way around the bases, taking the plate as Bashara checked on Mike McGee at first base. Rattlers' first-baseman Nick Ramirez threw home on Phillips, but he dove underneath Paciorek's tag to give the LumberKings a 4-0 lead.

Romero homered to left in the third inning - his team-leading 14th clout of the year - to make it 5-0. Phillips singled again in the fourth and scored on a Ramirez sacrifice fly for the final run, putting Clinton ahead 6-0.

Walker (W, 5-5) was in trouble in the first inning as he loaded the bases on a single and two walks, but he got out of the jam as Ramirez grounded to shortstop Phillips. Walker went on a streak of 12-straight retired before the Rattlers produced their only run against him.

With two outs in the fifth, Reggie Keen drew a walk. Nick Shaw singled to put runners at the corners and Mike Brownstein singled into right to score Keen. T.J. Mittelstaedt dropped down a two-out squeeze bunt to try and get Shaw in, but Walker came off the mound and made a perfect barehanded play to first base to end the inning.

Right-hander John Taylor struck out two over a perfect seventh inning and right-hander Jonathan Arias (S, 5) fanned six over the final 3.0 innings for the save.

Bashara (L, 4-5) gave up six runs, five earned on seven hits over 3.1 innings in the loss for Wisconsin. Relievers Brian Garman, Dan Britt and Seth Lintz combined on 5.2 scoreless innings after Bashara's exit.

Phillips went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and three steals, the most steals in one game by a LumberKing this year. Hicks went 1-for-4 with two RBI, both coming on the home run. Ramirez added a 2-for-4 game including an RBI.

Shaw went 2-for-4 and Brownstein 2-for-3 with an RBI, accounting for all four hits for the Rattlers.

The LumberKings (21-19) continue the road trip with a four-game series at Burlington (13-27) starting tomorrow night at Community Field, first pitch scheduled for 6:30 PM. Left-hander Tony Butler (1-1, 2.41) starts for Clinton against Bees' right-hander Jonathan Joseph (2-4, 6.52). Listen to the game on AM 1390 KCLN in Clinton or live on the web at 1390kcln.com.

Dave Lezotte Director of Broadcasting and Media Relations Play-by-Play Broadcaster Clinton LumberKings Baseball Club Class "A" Affiliate of the Seattle Mariners 563-242-0727 ext. 106 davelezotte@lumberkings.com

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