Miller tallies 7th win of the year in series opener

PEORIA, IL (June 9, 2017) - A four-run third inning and strong starting pitching was enough for the Clinton LumberKings to drop the Peoria Chiefs on Friday night at Dozer Park. Gareth Morgan and Luis Liberato each added homers to back the LumberKings (25-33) series opening win.
Brandon Miller started for Clinton and threw the ball well in his 12^th start of the year. Over his six innings of work, Miller (7-3) held Peoria (26-34) to three runs on four hits while walking none and striking out eight. The only blemishes on his line were a pair of home runs.
The Chiefs first home run of the game went for their first hit. Miller hit Andrew Young to open the bottom of the second inning and paid for the mistake when the next batter Ryan McCarvel crushed a two-run homer to center. The ball was estimated to have traveled 455 feet and gave the Chiefs an early 2-0 lead.
The LumberKing took the lead for good in the top of the third inning. Clinton rallied with two men out in the inning against Peoria starter Ian Oaxnevad. Joe Rizzo reached on an error and scored two batters later on an Anthony Jimenez RBI single to left. The big hit of the inning came with bases loaded. Ryan Scott emptied the bases with a three-run double to right center field that put the LumberKings on top 4-2.
 All four of the LumberKings runs in the third went as unearned runs. In the top of the fourth inning, Oaxnevad (0-7) allowed his only earned run of the night, a solo home run to Liberato that cleared the right field wall by plenty.
Peoria smashed their second home run of the game when Andrew Knizner slugged a solo home run to left off Miller for the Chiefs third run of the game.
The Lumberkings final run of the night came in the eighth when Gareth Morgan took Max Almonte deep to center field for a solo home run. The home run was the first allowed by Almonte in his professional career and marked the second straight night Morgan had homered.
Jeffeson Medina and Michale Koval worked the final three innings for Clinton and held the Chiefs to a single run during their time out.
Koval earned his first save of the year with 1.1 shutout innings of work, including a 1-2-3 ninth to give the LumberKings the series opener.
Clinton is now 15-15 over their last 30 games.
The LumberKings play game two of their four-game series with the Peoria Chiefs on Saturday night. Right-handed pitcher Ljay Newsome (4-5, 4.55) will take the ball for Clinton and face Peoria's right-handed pitcher Auston Sexton (1-0, 1.13) 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.  
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