Kings Can't Solve Ginley

Clinton, IA - A night after scoring a season-high 13 runs in a series-opening win over the Lansing Lugnuts, the Clinton LumberKings offense went cold against right-hander Kyle Ginley in a 6-1 loss. Ginley allowed only an unearned run over 7.2 innings, improving to 4-0 and lowering his ERA to 0.89.

For the first five innings, Kings' right-hander Neftali Feliz was able to match Ginley, tossing a gem of his own. The 19-year-old Texas Rangers prospect gave up only two hits and struck out a career-high eight over 5.0 innings, but left due to pitch count.

It was against LumberKings' right-hander Fabio Castillo that the Lugnuts were finally able to break the scoreless tie. Facing Castillo in the sixth, right-fielder Moises Sierra led off with a triple past a diving Tim Smith in left. Raul Barron then blooped a single to right, scoring Sierra for a 1-0 Lansing lead.

The Lugnuts then broke the game wide open with five runs in the eighth. Sierra came through with an RBI double to left, scoring John Tolisano. A bunt single by Barron and a walk to Kevin Ahrens loaded the bases, but Castillo still had a chance to limit the damage.

Castillo (L, 0-1) induced Darin Mastroianni into a double-play grounder, but shortstop Andres James misfired to second, plating both Sierra and Barron. Manny Rodriguez capped the inning with a two-run double to right as Lansing took a 6-0 lead.

Clinton evaded the shutout against Ginley in the bottom of the eighth. With two outs, Jose Felix reached on Tolisano's error at second. Jonathan Greene then legged out a broken-bat infield single to short, and Matt Lawson ripped an RBI single into left, scoring Felix.

That would be all for the LumberKings as left-hander Edgar Estanga then came on for 1.1 innings, striking out one in a non-save situation.

Ian Gac's 12-game hitting streak came to an end for the Kings as he finished 0-for-4 with three strikeouts. The hitless game was his first since Game One of a double-header with West Michigan on April 12. Mitch Moreland went 2-for-3 to lead Clinton's offense, while Barron led all hitters with a 3-for-4 night.

The LumberKings (14-5) and Lugnuts (13-8) finish the three-game series tomorrow afternoon, first pitch scheduled for 2:00 PM. Listen to the game on AM 1340 KROS in Clinton or live on the web at www.lumberkings.com.