CLINTON, IA (June 2, 2017) - A combination of early offense and strong pitching and the Clinton LumberKings took game one of a three-game set from the Peoria Chiefs on Friday night at Ashford University Field. Anthony Jimenez slugged his team-leading seventh home run of the season for Clinton (22-30)
CLINTON, IA (June 2, 2017) - A combination of early offense and strong pitching and the Clinton LumberKings took game one of a three-game set from the Peoria Chiefs on Friday night at Ashford University Field. Anthony Jimenez slugged his team-leading seventh home run of the season for Clinton (22-30) in a 4-1 win.
The early offense by Clinton started in the bottom of the first inning. Rayder Ascanio led off the inning with a double to right and scored the game's first run on a Yojhan Quevedo two-out RBI single to right.
The lead was added to in the bottom of the second inning when Kristian Brito reached on a single to lead off the inning. Nick Zammarrelli, followed, and lined a pitch to center that was misplayed by Chiefs (22-32) centerfielder Shane Billings. Instead of playing the ball on a bounce, Billings dove to try and make the catch but missed allowing the ball to roll to the centerfield wall. Zammeralli raced to third with an RBI triple and scored two pitches later on a wild pitch from Ian Oxnevad to cap the two-run rally.
In the bottom of the fourth, the LumberKings added their final run of the night on a Jimenez solo homer to left off Chiefs starter Oznevas (0-6). The home run was the seventh of the season for Jimenez a team best, it was his fourth home run in his last 10 games.
The runs were more than enough for Clinton pitching who shutout Peoria through the first eight innings. Robert Dugger, in his second start of the season, three 3.2 shutout innings with four strikeouts while allowing just one hit.
Danny Garcia replaced Dugger with two out in the fourth inning and took the ball into the ninth inning. The lefty earned the win for Clinton with 4.2 innings of work striking out three and walking two.
Garcia (5-4) finally ran into trouble in the ninth inning allowing a one-out double to JR Davis and was chased from the game following a Vince Jackson RBI single that scored the only Chiefs run of the night.
Jack Anderson entered the game and retired the final two Chiefs batters to preserve the LumberKings win and earn his first save of the season.
The LumberKings play game two of their three-game series with the Peoria Chiefs on Saturday night. Right-handed pitcher Brandon Miller (6-2, 3.74) will take the ball for Clinton. And face Peoria's right-handed pitcher Austin Sexton (1-0, 1.42) 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. Saturday will also be a jammed packed day of fun at Ashford University Field. The fun starts at 10 AM with the 20th annual LumberKings baseball clinic, sponsored by Gateway State Bank, and constinues with the first "Stay Late Saturday" of the year with Back Country Roads performing following the game. Fans who arrive early will receive a 2017 Clinton LumberKings team photo courtesy of Thrivent Financial and Mediacom.
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
