MWL1 Clinton LumberKings

Wiswall's Single Highlights Three-Run Eighth

Published on August 8, 2011 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Clinton LumberKings News Release


Burlington, IA - A tremendous double play in the bottom of the seventh tipped momentum back Clinton's way and Mickey Wiswall singled home the first of three runs in the top of the eighth, giving the LumberKings a 5-2 win over the Burlington Bees on Monday night at Community Field.

With the game tied at 2-2 in the bottom of the seventh, Kings' right-hander Matt Bischoff allowed a leadoff double to Nino Leyja and issued a wild pitch to Tyreace House that put Leyja at third with no outs. Bischoff battled back to strike out House, then induced a wild inning-ending double play off the bat of Beau Taylor. Taylor chopped to drawn-in third baseman Carlos Ramirez, who started a rundown that Leyja stayed in to advance Taylor to second. After a play scored 5-2-6-2-5-1-5 finally retired Leyja, Ramirez made a perfect throw back to second to get Taylor over-rounding the bag.

Having denied the Bees a chance at the go-ahead run, the LumberKings then put together a rally in the top of the eighth against Burlington right-hander T.J. Walz. Mike McGee drew the last of his three walks with one out and sprinted to third on Stefen Romero's single into right-center. Wiswall fell behind Walz 0-2 before lining a single into right-center, scoring McGee for a 3-2 lead.

Tim Morris followed with a single to right-center scoring Romero and Kalian Sams beat out a potential inning-ending double play to reach first on a fielder's choice, scoring Wiswall.

With a sudden three-run cushion, Bischoff (W, 3-2) retired six of the next seven batters he faced to end the game. He allowed a one-out double to Josh Whitaker in the eighth, but locked up Wade Kirkland on a called strike three to strand him.

The LumberKings took a 1-0 lead in the second inning as Romero lifted an opposite-field home run to right. The ball bounced off the top of the high wall and went over, giving Romero his 15th blast of the season and 50th RBI.

The Bees quickly answered with a run off left-hander Anthony Fernandez. House reached on an infield single and took second as Romero's throw to first was wide of Morris. Taylor followed with a single to left, scoring House to tie the game at 1-1.

A two-out, two-strike single to center by Sams plated McGee in the fourth to put Clinton back ahead 2-1, but Fernandez yielded three hits in the bottom of the fourth including a game-tying flare single to center by Royce Consigli.

Fernandez came out with the score tied 2-2 after 6.0 innings, but still earned his fourth-straight quality start (and eighth overall) with two runs, one earned on six hits and four strikeouts.

Burlington right-hander Josh Bowman posted a similar line with two runs, one earned, on four hits over 5.0 innings. Right-hander Daniel Tenholder added 2.0 scoreless innings before Walz came on. Right-hander Drew Tyson pitched a scoreless ninth.

Wiswall finished 2-for-4 with his 45th RBI on the night, while Romero went 2-for-4 with the home run to extend his hitting streak to a team-best 13 games. Sams drove in two runs on 1-for-4 hitting. With both Kane County and Beloit washed out, the LumberKings are now 2.5 games behind the Cougars for the top playoff spot in the West, 3.5 games ahead of the Snappers for the Wild Card.

Whitaker went 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored for Burlington, who have dropped six of their last eight games.

The LumberKings (23-20) conclude the four-game series with the Bees (14-29) tomorrow night at Community Field, first pitch scheduled for 6:30 PM. Left-hander Roenis Elias (1-0, 0.00) makes his second start for Clinton as Burlington counters with right-hander Jose Macias (4-3, 5.01). Listen to the broadcast on AM 1390 KCLN in Clinton or live on the web at 1390kcln.com.

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Midwest League Stories from August 8, 2011


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