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MWL1 Clinton LumberKings

Three Homers Still Not Enough Against Whitecaps

April 23, 2006 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Clinton LumberKings News Release


Comstock Park, MI - The offense for the Clinton LumberKings looked poised for a breakout ballgame against the West Michigan Whitecaps, posting three home runs on the afternoon. However, those three blasts produced only four runs, and the L-Kings lost their third game in a row to the Whitecaps, 6-4.

The LumberKings got in a 5-0 hole early, again due to a questionable call by replacement umpires. In the bottom of the second, L-Kings starter Kyle Rogers got in a bases-loaded jam and faced Whitecaps designated hitter Pedro Cotto. Rogers induced Cotto into a slick 3-2-3 double play, but the home plate umpire ruled that catcher Ben Crabtree had not touched the plate for the force out. A run scored on the play, and the inning continued. Mark Haske then smacked a sharp grounder that L-Kings first baseman Brian Valichka snagged on a diving play, but his throw to Rogers covering first was errant, allowing two more runs to score.

Trailing by five in the top of the fourth, the LumberKings would get on the board in dramatic fashion. John Mayberry blasted his second home run of the season, a towering two-run shot that cleared the centerfield wall. Freddie Thon followed by ripping the very next pitch from Whitecaps starter Luke French off the facing of the party deck in right field for his second roundtripper of the year. The back-to-back jacks made it a 5-3 game.

Matt Smith brought the LumberKings within one run with his solo homer in the seventh. With two outs, Smith hit French's pitch high and deep to right, just barely clearing the wall for his first home run of the year.

That would be the last run scored by the L-Kings, as reliever Ricky Stiek came on to work two scoreless innings for his first save of the year. French (2-1) picked up the victory with seven solid innings, despite the four earned runs. Rogers (0-2) took the loss for the LumberKings, allowing three earned runs on four hits through four innings of work.

With the loss, the L-Kings fall to 5-12, alone in last place in the Midwest League West. They have lost four straight games and six of their last seven. The Whitecaps improve to 10-6, now tied for second in the East.

The series concludes tomorrow, with lefthander Zach Phillips (1-0, 1.06) getting the start for Clinton against West Michigan lefty Ramon Garcia (2-1, 1.50). The game will start at 5:35pm central time. Listen to the broadcast live on AM 1340 KROS, or stream the broadcast over the internet at www.lumberkings.com.

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Midwest League Stories from April 23, 2006


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