Jimenez Deals Kings a Game One Loss

Cedar Rapids, IA - The league-leading offense of the Clinton LumberKings put up just five total hits and failed to score in the opening game of the Midwest League Playoffs as Cedar Rapids right-hander Esmerlin tossed seven scoreless frames and combined with the bullpen on a 3-0 shutout Wednesday night at Dale & Thomas Popcorn Field.

The Kings had early opportunities as Jimenez (W, 1-0) hit Engel Beltre to start off the third. An errant pickoff throw in the dirt sent Beltre on the move to second, but his attempt at taking third as well proved costly. Right-fielder Julio Perez fired a strike to third, and a sweep tag by third-baseman Jay Brossman retired Beltre.

Even after a pair of two-out walks kept the Kings in business in the third, Jimenez still worked out of the jam with one of five strikeouts, sitting down Matt Lawson swinging.

Starter Blake Beavan then made one of his few mistakes on the night, serving up a solo home run to Jeremy Moore to lead off the bottom of the third inning. Beltre almost robbed it at the 403 sign, but came up with an empty glove as Moore circled the bases for the 18th time this season.

Andrew Romine lead a scrappy attack for two insurance runs against Beavan. After Alexi Amarista doubled just inside the third-base bag with two outs in the fifth, Romine singled through the left side to score him from second.

In the seventh inning, Moore reached on a two-base throwing error by third-baseman Jonathan Greene and then moved to third on a balk by Beavan. Romine dropped down a squeeze bunt, scoring Moore from third for a 3-0 lead.

Beavan (L, 0-1) gave up just three runs (two earned) over 6.1 innings, walking one while fanning four. However, the lack of offense sent the 2007 Texas Rangers' first-round pick to his first post-season loss. Chris Dennis pitched the final 1.2 innings for Clinton, yielding only a hit while striking out one.

The LumberKings had chances against the Kernels bullpen, but could not convert. Facing lefty setup-man Naldy Calderon in the eighth, Beltre lead off with a double down the right-field line. Justin Smoak followed with a single into left, putting runners on the corners. Unfortunately, Calderon (H, 1) broke Tim Smith's bat on a grounder to the mound to escape the jam.

With closer Eddie McKiernan on in the ninth, Greene opened the inning with a single to center. Cristian Santana bashed a drive down the left-field line that hooked foul before grounding into a 5-4-3 double play. McKiernan (S, 1) then struck out Jose Felix to end the game.

Despite the loss, the LumberKings might have the Kernels right where they want them. Clinton lost game one of last year's first-round series in Cedar Rapids by a 3-1 score, only to take the next two games at home to capture the series.

The Kings will have 19-year-old right-hander Michael Main on the mound, taking on left-hander Trevor Reckling of the Kernels. First pitch from Alliant Energy Field is scheduled for 7:00 PM. Listen to the game on AM 1340 KROS in Clinton or live on the web at www.lumberkings.com.