Wiswall, Kings Fight Off Chiefs for Sweep

Peoria, IL - Mickey Wiswall drove in three RBI including the game-winner on a double in the top of the eighth as the Clinton LumberKings defeated Peoria, 9-5 on Monday night at O'Brien Field. Wiswall's hit highlighted a three-run eighth as the Kings broke a 5-5 tie and finally secured the three-game sweep of the Chiefs.

The LumberKings jumped out to a 4-0 lead against Peoria left-hander Austin Kirk. Kirk, who had went 3-0 with a 1.11 ERA in five previous outings against the Kings including a nine-inning no-hitter on July 4, was greeted by a leadoff double from Carlos Ramirez in the first inning and an RBI single by Mike McGee two batters later. Ramirez added a solo home run to the left-field berm in the third inning and Wiswall lifted a two-run blast to the picnic tables in right in the fourth, establishing the 4-0 lead.

Clinton right-hander Carter Capps, Seattle's supplemental third-round pick in 2011 and the NCAA Division II Pitcher of the Year while at Mount Olive College (NC), cruised through four scoreless innings in his professional debut. Then he encountered struggles in the fifth, allowing a two-run double to Smaily Borges and committing a wild pitch that scored Borges to cut the lead to 4-3. Capps exited after 4.2 innings with three runs on five hits and six strikeouts in a no-decision.

Right-hander Jessie Nava stranded an inherited runner for Capps in the fifth but allowed the tying run in the sixth as Dustin Geiger doubled and scored on a double by Rafael Valdes.

The Kings took the lead right back in the top of the seventh as John Hicks reached on a two-base fielding error by third-baseman Arismendy Alcantara, took third on a bunt by Matt Browning and scored on a double-play groundout by Anthony Phillips. Still, Nava would surrender another tying run as he loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh and hit Anthony Giansanti in the hand with a pitch, forcing home Jesus Morelli to make it a 5-5 game.

Nava (W, 2-4) worked out of the jam in impressive fashion, striking out Geiger swinging and Alcantara looking to leave the bases loaded. That gave the LumberKings a chance to take the lead once more in the eighth.

McGee started with a double down the left-field line with one out and took third on a missed catch error charged to second-baseman Rubi Silva on a botched pickoff play. Stefen Romero walked and Wiswall followed with the game-winning double, a smash just out of the reach of Geiger at first base that trickled down the right-field line. Kalian Sams continued the damage with a single to left scoring Romero, and Wiswall came home also as Morelli's throw back in from left field went for an error.

Phillips singled and scored on a base hit by Ramirez in the ninth, raising the lead to 9-5. Left-hander Ryan Kiel (S, 1) retired all six batters he faced over the final two innings, striking out two to finally put down the Chiefs.

Peoria right-hander Yohan Gonzalez (L, 5-5) was touched for four runs, three earned on three hits over 2.2 innings. Right-hander Daniel Berlind surrendered a run on two hits over one inning.

Wiswall finished 2-for-4 with his 10th home run and three RBI, reaching the 50 RBI plateau on his game-winning double. Ramirez fell a triple shy of the cycle, finishing 3-for-5 with his fourth home run - second of the series - and two RBI. McGee and Sams added RBI as well for the LumberKings, who move to 4.0 games ahead of Beloit for the second-half West Division Wild Card spot.

Borges went 2-for-3 with a double and two RBI for the Chiefs.

The LumberKings (27-23) have off on Tuesday and return home to Alliant Energy Field on Wednesday, August 17. They'll open a three-game series against the Quad Cities River Bandits (29-21), with the first pitch scheduled for 6:30 PM. Left-hander Tony Butler (1-3, 3.43) gets the game one start for Clinton, while Quad Cities counters with right-hander Trevor Rosenthal (6-7, 3.61). Listen to the game on AM 1390 KCLN in Clinton or live on the web at 1390kcln.com.