MWL1 Clinton LumberKings

Wilhelmsen Near Perfect in Clinton's 3-0 Win Vs. Burlington

August 12, 2010 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Clinton LumberKings News Release


Clinton, IA - Clinton right-hander Tom Wilhelmsen flirted with history Thursday night at Alliant Energy Field, retiring the first 20 Burlington batters he faced over 6.2 perfect innings before finally allowing a hit. Still, the defending Midwest League Pitcher of the Week worked 7.0 scoreless innings and combined with the bullpen on a three-hit shutout in a 3-0 win over the Bees.

Everything went right for Wilhelmsen over the first six innings as he breezed through the Burlington lineup nearly two times before a Bees' hitter even lifted a ball to the outfield. When Jose Bonilla finally skied one deep to right-center with two outs in the fifth, centerfielder Matt Cerione made an athletic running catch to rob him on the warning track.

Wilhelmsen pitched a quick sixth and had the first two outs in the seventh when Carlo Testa finally ended the perfecto. His opposite-field liner cleared the head of left-fielder Vinnie Catricala for a double, Burlington's first and only hit against the 26-year-old right-hander.

An error on first-baseman Tim Morris and a walk to Ben Theriot loaded the bases as the Bees suddenly threatened a 3-0 LumberKings' lead, but Bonilla rolled to Mario Martinez at third base to end the inning.

Wilhelmsen (W, 3-0) exited to cheers from the home crowd having blanked the Bees over 7.0 innings. He struck out six, lowering his ERA to a microscopic 0.45 in his third start of the year. The last perfect game in LumberKings' history remains the one thrown by Scott Dunn on August 3, 2000 against Lansing, which also happens to be Clinton's last nine-inning no-hitter.

The bullpen continued the stifling trend. Right-hander Daniel Cooper (H, 3) allowed only a bunt single to Hilton Richardson over a scoreless eighth, and right-hander Forrest Snow (S, 2) yielded a two-out single to Jake Kuebler before striking out Theriot looking to end the game.

All the offense Clinton would need came in the third inning when Cerione teed off on Bees' right-hander Sugar Ray Marimon. His solo homer to dead center - Cerione's eighth of the year - put the LumberKings ahead, 1-0. A sacrifice fly by Blake Ochoa added another run in the fourth inning, and Morris tripled and scored on a wild pitch to cap the scoring in the sixth.

The Kings could have lead by six or more if not for the Bees outfield. Right-fielder Testa threw out two runners at the plate on potential sacrifice flies and center-fielder Whit Merriman threw out a third runner at the plate in the sixth.

Marimon (L, 2-5) took the loss with three runs on six hits over 6.0 innings. Right-handers Matt Mitchell and Matt Morizio would each toss scoreless innings of relief.

The LumberKings (25-20, 62-52) maintain a 1.5 game lead over the Beloit Snappers for the West Division Wild Card. Burlington (15-27, 37-75) has lost nine-straight games.

The series and homestand conclude tomorrow night at Alliant Energy Field with right-hander Taylor Stanton (9-5, 3.90) making his 20th start of the year. First pitch is at 7:00 PM. Listen to the game on AM 1390 KCLN in Clinton or live on the web at 1390kcln.com.

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Midwest League Stories from August 12, 2010


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