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MWL1 Clinton LumberKings

Three-run Ninth Isn't Enough for Kings

August 15, 2008 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Clinton LumberKings News Release


Clinton, IA - For the second-straight night, the Clinton LumberKings put together a ninth-inning rally, and for the second-straight night, it fell short as the Burlington Bees took the rubber match with a 7-4 win Friday night.

Tim Smith capped a 3-for-4 night with a solo home run to left-center to spark the Kings in the ninth against Bees' reliever Paul Raglione. An error by second-baseman Johnny Giavotella put Mitch Moreland aboard, and after a double by Jonathan Greene, consecutive groundouts by Matt Lawson and Cristian Santana plated runs as Clinton cut the deficit to 7-4. Unfortunately, that would be all as Tony Bradley (S, 4) came on in place of Raglione to shut the door.

Prior to facing the Bees bullpen, the LumberKings could not generate offense against right-hander Alex Caldera. Only an RBI groundout by Santana in the second marred the line of Caldera (W, 10-6), who scattered four hits over 7.0 innings while walking two and striking out eight.

Kings' starter Ryan Tatusko could not say the same. Clint Robinson continued a huge series with a solo homer to right-center in the second, and Giavotella also added a solo homer off the scoreboard in the sixth. Tatusko (L, 2-9) also worked 7.0 innings, but yielded three earned runs on nine hits (two home runs) while striking out seven.

The Bees took a commanding lead with a four-run eighth against normally stingy right-hander Chris Dennis. Robinson chipped in his second RBI with a single to score Mike Moustakas, while Jamar Walton added an RBI double and Juan Rivera capped the inning with a sac fly to center. Dennis was removed in the midst of Rivera's at-bat after being looked at by trainer Jacob Newburn. No announcement as to an injury was announced.

Lefty Joseph Ortiz came on for the final 1.2 innings, allowing a hit while striking out one.

Smith's infield single in the first inning extended his hitting streak to a season-best 15 games, now just three back from the longest streak by a LumberKing this year. Renny Osuna hit in 18 straight games from June 5th up until his promotion to high-A Bakersfield on June 25th. The ninth-inning homer for Smith was also his 10th, as he becomes the fifth Clinton player to reach double-digits in blasts this year (Ian Gac, Greene, Moreland, Santana).

Moustakas (3-for-5) and Robinson (3-for-4) each had multi-hit nights to lead the Bees as they out-hit the Kings, 13-7.

The LumberKings (27-27) open a four-game home-and-home series with the Peoria Chiefs, hosting the first game at Alliant Energy Field on Saturday night. First pitch is scheduled for 7 PM, listen to the game on AM 1340 KROS in Clinton or live on the web at www.lumberkings.com.

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