LumberKings Hold On for Third Straight Win

CLINTON, IA (April 19, 2019) - The Clinton LumberKings rode early offense to a 4-3 win over the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers on Friday night. Will Banfield slugged his first home run of the year as Clinton (8-7) captured their sixth win over their last seven games and their third straight series.
Banfield's home run started the scoring for the LumberKings who jumped out to an early 4-0 lead and then held on the rest of the night. Timber Rattlers (6-8) starting pitcher Adam Hill struggled to start the game and allowed the first four batters he faced to reach. After a Christopher Torres pick off at first, Demetrius Sims walked and Jerar Encarnacion singled to set the table for Banfield. On a 3-1 pitch from Hill (1-1), Banfield lifted a ball to right center field that went into the Lumberlounge for a three-run home run.
In the bottom of the second, Clinton added their final run of the night on a Demetrius Sims RBI single that scored Brayan Hernandez.
Hill (1-1) was given the loss for his four innings of work for Wisconsin. He allowed all four of Clinton's runs on five hits while walking three and striking out six.
LumberKings starter Peyton Culbertson worked around trouble in the first and second innings before yielding his first run in the third. Brice Turang doubled to open the inning - one of his three hits in the game - and scored two batters later on an RBI double by David Fry.
Culbertson ended his night with four plus innings of work and departed in the fifth after allowing four straight hits that brought home the Timber Rattlers second run of the game.
Following Culbertson's exit, Tyler Mitzel entered the game in his season debut with the bases loaded and nobody out. He struck out Chad McClanahan for the first out and then induced an inning ending double play to preserve the two-run lead.
Mitzel (1-0) earned the win for Clinton with two innings of relief work in which he did not allow a run, and only one hit, while walking one and striking out four.
Leading by two, Alex Vesia came on for Clinton to work the ninth. He struck out the first batter he faced before allowing a solo home run to Yeison Coca that made it a one-run game. Vesia allowed no more in the inning and earned his first save of the year with a strikeout of Gabriel Garcia to end the game.
The LumberKings will meet the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers for the finale of their three-game series on Saturday night. Clinton will throw left-handed pitcher Manuel Rodriguez (0-0, 2.00) while Wisconsin will counter with lefty Adam Hill (1-2, 3.68). Fans looking to listen to the game can hear Erik Oas on the call at 100.3 FM WCCI and online at lumberkings.com via the tunein radio ap at 6:15 p.m. with the pregame show.
Friday's game was the first Allegiant Airlines flight voucher raffle of the season with Peggy Deetz chosen as the winner! The next Allegiant Flight voucher raffle will be Friday, May 17^th when the LumberKings host the Cedar Rapids Kernels.
 
About the LumberKings
The Clinton LumberKings, the only remaining Charter Member of the Midwest League, are preparing for their 64^thseason in the league and their first year of affiliation with the Miami Marlins. Since the club's inception in 1937, 281 former Clinton players have gone on to reach the Major Leagues. Advertising and tickets for the 2019 season are available by calling (563)242-0727 or by visiting LumberKings.com