LumberKings lose on straight steal of home

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (June 17, 2017) - A straight steal of home by Cedar Rapids Kernels Travis Blankenhorn was the differences in a 2-1 Clinton LumberKings loss on Saturday night at Veterans Memorial Stadium at Perfect Game Field.
The LumberKings (31-35) struggled to solve Kernels starter Tyler Wells. Through the first five innings both team traded zeroes. Wells (4-1) was coasting through his first five innings striking out nine, but finally ran into trouble in the top of the sixth.
Clinton broke the scoreless tie in the sixth with their first and only run of the night. Nick Zammarelli III opened the inning with a double to right and moved to third on the next pitch. Jhombeyker Morales attempted to move Zammarellit to third with a sacrifice bunt but beat out the throw from Kernels (38-31) pitcher Wells.
The hit was Morales only of the game but enough to stretch his hitting streak to 15 games. He became the first LumberKing with a hitting streak of 15 games or longer since Dario Pizzano recorded a 19-game hitting streak in August of 2013.
Zammarelli then scored in the sixth in an RBI groundout by Bryson Brigman.
The lead did not hold up for long. In the bottom of the sixth inning, Jermanine Palacaios reached on a one out single and advanced to third on a ground out. With two out and a runner at third, Jaylin Davis lined a ball to short that Morales gloved but could not hold on to allowing the ball to trickle into center field for an RBI single that tied the game at 1-1.
The game stayed tied until the bottom of the eighth. Jack Anderson took over on the mound for the LumberKings in the inning and allowed the first man to reach on a Joe Rizzo fielding error at third. Blankenhorn moved to third on two Anderson (1-2) walks. With two out in the inning, Blankenhorn then broke for the plate as Anderson was coming set and slid in safely for the games deciding run on a straight steal of home.
Hector Lujan then closed the door on Clinton with a 1-2-3 top of the ninth inning, earning his sixth save of the year.
The loss keeps Cedar Rapids playoff hopes alive and snaps the longest Lumberkings winning streak of the season, six games.
The LumberKings will finish the first half of the season with their third and final game of the three games with the Cedar Rapids Kernels on Sunday afternoon. Left-handed pitcher Danny Garcia (5-4, 5.64) will take the ball for Clinton. First pitch is scheduled for 2:05 PM (CDT) with the pregame show beginning at 1:50 PM (CDT) on 100.3 FM WCCI Erik Oas is on the call.
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