Clinton Rally Falls Short in Kane County

Geneva, IL - The LumberKings valiant comeback fell short on Monday afternoon at Kane County as the Cougars' Bijan Rademacher delivered a two-out, run-scoring base hit to give the home team a 6-5 win in ten innings. 

 Kane County played their third consecutive extra innings affair and picked up their first win of 2013.  Justin Almung picked up the win in relief despite allowing four runs in three innings.

 It was all Cougars throughout the first seven innings as they took a 5-1 lead into the eighth when suddenly the Clinton bats came to life.  Ketel Marte started the rally as he reached on a one-out, infield single and then promptly stole second.  After Jabari Henry was retired, leftfielder Guillermo Pimentel hit a tape-measure two-run homer to cut the lead to 5-3. 

 Clinton reliever Dominic Leone struck out the side in the bottom of the eighth inning and allowed Clinton to stay within reach. 

 With one out in the ninth, first baseman Taylor Ard hit his first homer of the year, a solo shot to center that cut the lead to 5-4.  Jordy Lara struck out looking for the second out but Tyler Marlette drew a walk to put the tying run on base.  Brock Hebert pinch-ran for Marlette and Dario Pizzano pinch hit for Tim Lopes.  Both moves paid off when Hebert moved to second on a wild pitch and then scored the tying run on Pizzano's single up the middle.   

 Kane County put the winning run on third in the bottom of the ninth but Leone struck out Jeimer Candelario to send the game to extras.  Clinton went quietly in their half of the tenth, setting the stage for the walk-off winner.

 Rock Shoulders led off the bottom of the tenth with a base hit off reliever Blake Hauser.  He moved to second on Wes Darvill's two-out walk.  Then it was Rademacher's turn who hit a soft fly into centerfield that Henry couldn't run down.  It scored Shoulders and gave the Cougars a 6-5 win.

 The two teams play game two of the series tomorrow at Fifth Third Bank Ballpark.  The LumberKings send right-hander Stephen Landazuri (0-0, 0.00) to the mound against Kane County right-hander Pierce Johnson (0-1, 19.29).  First pitch is scheduled for 12:00 CT.