Offense Back on Track Against Loons

Clinton, IA - The potent Clinton LumberKings offense regained its swagger Monday night, ripping six extra-base hits - two of which were home runs - in a 10-3 victory over the Great Lakes Loons. Jonathan Greene and

Matt Lawson

each had the clouts for the Kings, who scored in double-digits after combining for just three runs in the previous two games.

Clinton jumped out in front of the Loons and right-hander Kyle Smit early thanks to Greene's second home run of the year. His second-inning blast came with Miguel Alfonzo on base and cleared the wood wall in left-center to give the Kings a 2-0 lead.

The Loons tied the score in the third against left-hander Derek Holland, getting an RBI double from Brian Mathews and an RBI groundout from Andrew Lambo.

The 2-2 tie would be the closest Great Lakes would get as the LumberKings hung four runs on Smit in the bottom of the third. Engel Beltre opened the frame with a double to center, and Clinton loaded the bases as Renny Osuna reached on an infield single and Ian Gac went to first after being hit by a pitch.

With the bases full, Cristian Santana lined a single into left, scoring Beltre and Osuna, and Miguel Alfonzo followed with another liner to left, plating Tim Smith who had reached on a fielder's choice. Jose Felix finished the big inning with a sacrifice fly that took right-fielder Scott Van Slyke to the warning track. Santana tagged and scored to make it a 6-2 lead.

Leading 9-2 in the seventh, Clinton reached the 10-run plateau thanks to the first home run of the season by Lawson. Facing left-hander Jon Dutton, Lawson turned on an inside pitch, hitting a screamer off the left-field foul pole just above the fence.

The offense was plenty for the Kings' pitching staff as four hurlers combined to allow three earned runs. Holland gave up two runs on six hits over 4.0 innings in a no-decision, striking out just one. Left-hander Ryan Turner (W, 2-1) earned the win in relief, yielding just three hits while striking out two. Right-hander Josh Lueke allowed a run on Preston Mattingly's RBI groundout in the eighth, and right-hander Chris Dennis set down the Loons in order in the ninth.

Lambo (L, 0-2) served up seven runs on nine hits over 4.1 innings for Great Lakes. Dutton went the rest of the way, giving up three more runs on three hits over the final 3.2 innings.

Osuna led all hitters, going 3-for-4 with two runs scored. Santana added a sac fly and drove in three RBI, going 1-for-4. Alfonzo chipped in a 2-for-4 night with two RBI singles, and Smith scored two runs while going 2-for-5.

Shortstop Joe Becker led the Loons' 10-hit effort, going 3-for-5 with a run scored.

The LumberKings (16-5) now sit alone in first place for the first time this year as Kane County's home game with Fort Wayne was postponed due to rain. Clinton will send 19-year-old right-hander and Texas Rangers' first-round pick Blake Beavan to the mound for his first professional start tomorrow night against the Loons (11-12).

Listen to the game on AM 1340 KROS in Clinton or live on the web at www.lumberkings.com.