Dayton hands LumberKings their sixth straight loss

Clinton bullpen falters in 4-2 loss to the Dragons

By Mike Weisman

June 4, 2015

Clinton, IA - Despite a strong five innings fresh off of the disabled list by Pat Peterson (ND), the Clinton LumberKings (23-31) fell for the sixth consecutive game, as the Dayton Dragons (29-25) won the series and set up an opportunity for a sweep. Dayton plated two runs off of Nick Kiel (L, 1-3) in the eighth inning in route to the win, as four pitchers combined to give up only one earned run for the Dragons.

Clinton scored first, but for the fourth consecutive game in which the team has scored the game's first run, lost. Newly named All-Star starting outfielder Estarlyn Morales doubled off of Dayton starter Wyatt Strahan (ND) to begin the second inning, and scored three batters later on Martin Peguero's RBI single. Strahan matched Peterson, as both starters allowed one earned run over five innings in a no-decision.

Dayton got the leadoff man aboard three times throughout the night, and each time, the Dragons scored. Gavin LaValley led off the fourth inning with a double and scored on a groundout. Narciso Crook was hit by a pitch to begin the seventh and scored on a groundout. Brian O'Grady doubled to begin the eighth inning and scored the eventual winning run on an RBI single by Avain Rachal.

Kiel recorded all three outs in the seventh inning after he allowed an inherited runner to score, but gave up three straight hits to begin the eighth. O'Grady's double, Rachal's single, and an RBI single by LaValley made it 4-2 Dayton, the eventual final.

Scott Brattvet (W, 1-2) retired all four men that he faced over the seventh and eighth innings, while Joe Mantoni (SV, 1) set down the side in order in the ninth. Kody Kerski pitched 1.2 innings of scoreless relief for Clinton, as he was the only of Clinton's four pitchers to not give up a run.

Amidst a season long losing streak, Clinton will turn to All-Star Lukas Schiraldi (4-3, 3.69) who has allowed just two earned runs over his past two starts and has a 2.33 ERA over his past four outings. Dayton will counter with Junior Morillo, a Venezuelan lefty who will make his 2015 debut, and pitched only once in 2014. First pitch of the series finale is set for 6:30 at Ashford University Field in Clinton. The LumberKings broadcast can be heard on WCCI 100.3 FM, WCCIRadio.com, and LumberKings.com.