Big Bats Back Phillips' Gem in 10-1 Win

Clinton, IA - Prior to Friday night, all of left-hander Zach Phillips' five wins came after Clinton losses. After a win over Peoria last night, the LumberKings' hurler made it two straight wins with a dominating one-hit shutout of the Chiefs over seven innings, and the offense blasted Peoria Pitching for 10 runs on nine hits in a 10-1 win.

Phillips (W, 6-3) took a perfect game into the seventh, before Clinton-born Ryne Malone doubled to center to break it up. That remained the only hit and baserunner he'd allow over his seven frames, striking out five.

Phillips and Chiefs starter Jake Renshaw were locked into a pitcher's duel early as each dealt no-hit shutout baseball over the first three innings. That duel came to an abrupt end as Renshaw derailed in the bottom of the fourth.

Marcus Lemon led off the inning with the game's first hit, a sharp single to left. Jose Vallejo followed with another single to left, and Lemon was thrown out at third by Chiefs' left-fielder Alfred Joseph for the first out. That would be the last out for a while, as Renshaw walked John Whittleman, Chad Tracy and K.C. Herren to put the LumberKings on the board. Mauro Gomez followed with a chopper up the middle that shortstop Dylan Johnston knocked down, but Gomez reached first and Whittleman scored. David Peterson then ripped a double just inside the left-field line, plating Tracy and Herren.

Renshaw (L, 5-3) was lifted with runners at second and third and only one out, trailing 4-0. Tall righty Miguel Cuevas came on, serving up a two-run double to Manny Pina, scoring both Gomez and Peterson. All of Clinton's six runs in the fourth were charged to the Chiefs' starter Renshaw.

Clinton wasn't quite done, scoring three runs in the fifth against reliever Donnie Walters. Vallejo led off with a double to right, and after a walk to Whittleman, reached third on a flyout by Tracy. Herren followed, ripping his league-leading eighth triple past center-fielder Matt Camp, clearing the bases. A sacrifice fly by Gomez plated Herren, making it 9-0.

Ivan Izquierdo came on for the final two innings, losing the shutout on an RBI single by Wellington Castillo. In the end, Peoria managed just that run on four hits in the game.

For the LumberKings, Lemon's fourth-inning single extended his hitting streak to seven games, all since taking over the lead-off spot for injured center-fielder Craig Gentry. Herren and Pina each drove in three runs on two hits, and Gomez and Peterson both plated two runs in one-hit nights.

The LumberKings (36-22) and Chiefs (29-31) continue the series tomorrow night at Alliant Energy Field, first pitch scheduled for 7:00 PM. Listen to the game on AM 1340 KROS in Clinton or live on the web at www.lumberkings.com.