LumberKings drop series finale with Cougars

GENEVA, IL (June 29, 2017) - The Clinton LumberKings waited through their second straight rain delay but with a different result, dropping the series finale with the Kane County Cougars 5-2 on Thursday night at Northwestern Medicine Field. A four-run Cougar (5-3, 44-31) seventh inning proved too much for the LumberKings to overcome.
The game was scoreless heading into the bottom of the third inning when rain began to come down hard and forced the umpires to enter the game in a one hour delay. When the game resumed, both starting pitchers were replaced. Lane Ratliff for Clinton (2-6, 33-42) pitched two shutout innings and Emilo Vargas threw three shutout frames for Kane County.
The scoring started with the LumberKings forcing the first run of the game across in the top of the fourth. Billy Cooke reached on a fielding error and scored three batters later on a Yojhan Quevedo RBI single to left.
The 1-0 lead did not hold up for Clinton. In the bottom of the fourth Kane County tied the game on an Adam Walton RBI single to right.
The LumberKings came right back to take the lead in the top of the fifth with their final run of the night. Gareth Morgan doubled to right with one out and was followed two batters later by a Dimas Ojeda's RBI single to center. The hit was one of two for Ojeda who extended his hitting streak to 10 games, tied for the third longest by a LumberKing this season.
The game was decided in the bottom of the sixth when the Cougars rallied for four runs against Steven Moyers. Luis Silverio set the scene with a triple to right center and then scored when four straight Cougars hit safely with two out in the inning. The last of the hits against Moyers (0-2) was a two-run Raymel Flores double that capped the rally.
Clinton failed to score following the fourth. Sam Lewis (3-1) earned the win with three innings of relief work allowing two runs, one earned, on four hits while walking one and striking out five.
The LumberKings managed to get the tying run to the plate in the top of the ninth inning but were closed out by Trevor Simms who recorded the final out to earn his second save of the year.
The LumberKings will now head home for a 7-game homestand beginning on Friday night against the Cedar Rapids Kernels. Right-handed pitcher Brandon Miller (8-3, 3.69) will take the ball for Clinton and face Kane County's right-handed pitcher Domenick Carlini IV (3-6, 5.46). First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 PM (CDT) with the pregame show beginning at 6:15 PM (CDT) on 100.3 FM WCCI, Erik Oas is on the call. Fans, make sure to arrive early for a pedometer giveaway courtesy of Prairie Hills and WQAD-TV. Gates will open at 5:00 PM.
About the LumberKings
The LumberKings, the only remaining Charter Member of the Midwest League, are playing their 62nd season in the league and their ninth as an affiliate of the Seattle Mariners. Since the club's inception in 1937, 270 former Clinton players have made it to the Major Leagues. The LumberKings play at historic Ashford University Field located off 6th Avenue North at 537 Ballpark Drive. Tickets to all 70 home games are available by calling (563) 242-0727 or by visiting lumberkings.com