One-run affair goes to the LumberKings

6-5 Clinton win over Burlington snaps long streak of close losses

By Mike Weisman

July 3, 2014

Burlington, IA - A pair of three-run innings helped the visiting Clinton LumberKings (5-8, 35-46) avoid a sweep at the hands of the Burlington Bees (8-6, 46-37) Thursday night at Community Field. Clinton scored three in the third and three in the sixth as they escaped with a 6-5 victory.

LumberKings right-handed starter Carlos Misell (7-8) won for the first time in just over a month, as he picked up his third quality start of the season. He allowed three runs, none of which were earned, as he became the eighth pitcher in the MWL to get to seven wins, albeit in his fifth attempt.

The visiting LumberKings got the scoring started off of Bees starter Alfonso Alcantara in the third inning. After a leadoff double by Lonnie Kauppila and an infield single by Aaron Barbosa, Clinton stole a run. Barbosa swiped second, Kauppila scored, and Barbosa moved to third on an error by Bees catcher Stephen McGee. Jack Reinheimer picked up his second hit of the night with an RBI single. He stole his team leading 26^th base, moved to third on a wild pitch, and scored on a sacrifice fly.

Up 3-0 in the third, Misell allowed three consecutive singles to load the bases with no one out. Kody Eaves popped up to Justin Seager in foul territory, but he could not make the catch, and was charged with an error that led to three unearned runs. Eaves drove home Ranyelmy Mendoza with a single, Tyler Palmer brought home a run on a double play, and Eric Aguilera drove in the third run of the inning.

But the LumberKings answered just half an inning later, as they scored three off of reliever Trevor Foss (3-6). Isaiah Yates, who singled to begin the sixth, scored on a throwing error by Burlington third baseman Ryan Dalton. Kauppila, who also singled in the inning, scored on Barbosa's sacrifice fly, and Reinheimer picked up an RBI on a groundout, as Clinton led 6-3 after 5.5 innings.

Following a walk-off 5-4 loss Wednesday night, the LumberKings bullpen made it interesting yet again. Misell left after six innings and allowed no earned runs. Nick Valenza pitched a scoreless seventh before he gave way to Aaron Brooks (SV, 3) to begin the eighth. Brooks gave up a pair of two-out runs that cut the LumberKings lead to one at 6-5. Clinton entered the game 5-16 in one-run games in 2014.

Brooks remained in the game for the ninth. He retired the first two before he walked Ryan Dalton. After Trevor Gretzky pinch ran and stole second, Mendoza groundout out to third with the tying runner in scoring position to end the game.

The one-run victory snapped a stretch that saw the LumberKings lose eight consecutive one-run ballgames, a streak that dated back to a 4-3 win over Wisconsin on May 27^th. Misell won and allowed no earned runs for the first time since June 2^nd. Reinheimer had two RBI's, his 12^th multi-RBI game, second on the team to only Austin Wilson, while Kauppila had three hits, his first game of 2014 with more than two.

The LumberKings return back to Clinton and will begin a three game series with the Kane County Cougars. The series gets underway on July 4^th at Ashford University Field. Postgame fireworks will follow Friday's ballgame. First pitch is set for 6:30 CT. The LumberKings broadcast can be heard on 100.3 FM WCCI, WCCIRadio.com, and LumberKings.com.