MWL1 Clinton LumberKings

Timely Offensive Vaults LumberKings to Season Opening Win

Published on April 8, 2016 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Clinton LumberKings News Release


GENEVA, IL - Behind effective pitching and timely offense, the Clinton LumberKings scrapped their way to a 2-1 victory Thursday night over the Kane County Cougars in their season opener at Fifth Third Bank Ballpark in Geneva.

After giving up a run on a fielders choice with a man at third in the first, starter Lukas Schiraldi held serve for the rest of the game, not allowing another run in his five innings of work. He stranded runners in scoring position in the second, third, and fourth innings and finished his night with a scoreless fifth.

Clinton got on the board in the fourth with a good old fashioned small ball inning. Dalton Kelly lead off with a walk, and with Conner Hale up, the hit and run was put on, allowing Kelly to go to second. After Logan Taylor grounded out to third, shortstop Rayder Ascanio smacked a ball up the middle of starter Taylor Clarke, scoring Kelly easily to tie the game at one.

The sixth inning proved to be the critical juncture in the game, as Dalton Kelly lead off with another walk, this time issued by reliever Joel Payamps, and stole second with Conner Hale up. Logan Taylor with one out was hit by a pitch, and after Rayder Ascanio popped out to third, Arturo Nieto walked to load the bases. That brought up Rafael Fernandez against Payamps, who walked on five pitches to force in Kelly and make it 2-1 Clinton.

Osmer Morales came in to relieve Schiraldi in the bottom of the sixth and gave up a leadoff double to Luke Lowery. With Lowery still at second and one out, Arturo Nieto snapped a ball to second with Trevor Mitsui up to pick off Lowery. In the eighth inning Nick Kiel gave up a leadoff single to Robelys Reyes and allowed him to get to third, but got Lowery to strike out looking to end the threat. Joey Strain came on and pitched a perfect ninth to seal the game for the LumberKings.

All runs that scored during this game reached base on leadoff walks. In his five career starts against Kane County, Lukas Schiraldi has only allowed more than three runs once. Tomorrow the LumberKings and Cougars will finish the front end of their two game home and home series in Geneva before the series shifts west to Clinton. Zack Littell (3-6, 3.91 ERA in 2015) takes the ball for the LumberKings, while 2015 2nd round pick Alex Young goes for Kane County. Greg Mroz will have the broadcast on WCCI 100.3 FM with first pitch schedule for 6:30 P.M.

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