Rattlers rally past Kings
The third overall pick in this year's draft, Clement went 3-for-5 with five RBIs, slamming the decisive homer in the top of the 10th inning after going 0-for-13 in the postseason.
Marc LaMacchia entered to start the inning and was greeted by Clement's second blast of the game, which snapped the 7-7 tie. The University of Southern California product cranked a two-run shot in the sixth to bring the Timber Rattlers within 6-3.
Clinton took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Brandon Boggs led off and reached on shortstop Oswaldo Navarro's throwing error, moved into scoring position on Casey Benjamin's single and advanced to third when Jim Fasano grounded into a double play. After Emerson Frostad was hit by a pitch, Boggs stole home on a pickoff attempt at first by starter Shawn Nottingham. William Susdorf lined a single to left to plate Frostad.
The LumberKings extended their lead in the second as Ian Gac reached first on an errant throw by third baseman Brent Johnson. Gac advanced to second on Matt Smith's sacrifice bunt and scored on Brandon Cashman's line single to left.
After the Timber Rattlers' Jack Arroyo and Josh Womack hit back-to-back singles in the third, Arroyo scored on Brent Johnson's groundout. Womack was caught at second, but the LumberKings could not complete the double play as shortstop Benjamin threw past first base.
With one out in the fifth, Boggs and Benjamin walked before Fasano made it 6-1 with one swing, sending a 1-0 pitch over the right field fence.
Brandon Cashman's solo homer in the seventh gave the LumberKings a 7-3 cushion, but Wisconsin rallied for five unanswered runs.
In a three-run eighth, Josh Womack lined a single to left and Johnson walked with one out. Navarro and Clement lined back-to-back singles to right to bring the Timber Rattlers within 7-6. Chris Colton's solo homer in the ninth knotted the score.
The comeback made a winner of reliever Justin Jordan (1-0), who yielded one hit, struck out four and walked one over 3 2/3 scoreless innings.
Clinton starter Michael Schlact limited Wisconsin to three runs on four hits and a walk over seven innings. Zachary Phillips gave up three runs while retiring just one batter. John Lujan gave up the tying run, despite fanning four in 1 2/3 frames, before LaMacchia (0-1) took the mound.
The teams play Game 2 at 7:35 p.m. ET on Sunday at Fox Cities Stadium. Cibney Bello takes the mound for Wisconsin, while John Bannister starts for Clinton. -- Marissa Rega/MLB.com