Another Clinton Comeback in Finale, 9-5
Burlington, IA - For the second straight game, the Clinton LumberKings found themselves trailing the Burlington Bees, 4-0. On Sunday afternoon, the LumberKings hit two home runs in the eighth inning to erase the deficit for a 9-5 victory and a series win.
Burlington took an early lead with a two-run home run in the first inning. Once again, it was Andrew Ray delivering the long ball, his ninth of the year. In the four-game series, Ray went 11-for-17 with three home runs, three doubles, five runs and seven RBIs.
Bees' starter Alex Keudell shut down the LumberKings for the first seven innings, giving Burlington time to establish a 4-0 lead. However, Clinton's bats came alive in the eighth inning. After Gaby Guerrero singled and Tim Lopes reached on an error, Jabari Henry lifted a high drive to left that cleared the fence with the help of some wind at Community Field. Henry's sixth home run of the season cut the Burlington lead to 4-3.
With two outs in the inning and a runner on first base, Jairo Diaz relieved Alex Keudell to try and escape the jam. The LumberKings greeted Diaz with a Janelfry Zorrilla single and then another three-run blast, this one off the bat of Tyler Marlette. The catcher's sixth long ball of the season completed the comeback and gave Clinton a 6-4 lead.
The LumberKings tacked on three more runs in the ninth for good measure. With the bases loaded, Martin Peguero belted a three-run double for his first hit as a LumberKing. The bases-clearing double pushed Clinton's lead to 9-4.
Blake Holovach took the win for Clinton to even his record to 1-1. Tyler Pike did not factor into the decision despite another quality start. The left-hander surrendered two runs on six hits over six innings of work. David Holman closed out the game, allowing a harmless run in the ninth inning and earning his second save of the year.
Clinton returns home as they play host to the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers. The LumberKings and Timber Rattlers begin a four-game series on Tuesday on Food Drive Night at Ashford University Field. The LumberKings send right-hander Victor Sanchez (1-2, 2.63) to the mound against Wisconsin right-hander Leonard Lorenzo (1-3, 6.52). First pitch is scheduled for 7:00 PM CT.