Rengifo's smash caps shutout win

CLINTON, IA (July 17, 2017) - The Clinton LumberKings broke a scoreless tie in the eighth inning with a Luis Rengifo home run for a 1-0 win over the Bowling Green Hot Rods on Monday afternoon at Ashford University Field. The shutout win was the first of the year at home for Clinton (10-15, 41-51) and the second of the season overall.
Robert Dugger started for the LumberKings and threw a professional career-high seven innings during his time out. For the first six innings, Bowling Green (15-10, 46-46) had just two hits to show against Dugger. In the top of the seventh, Dugger allowed three straight singles to open the inning but exited the jam to keep the game scoreless. In his seven innings of work, he struck out two, walked none and allowed five hits but received a no decision for his outing.
Willy Ortiz was equally impressive for the Hot Rods. The righty shutout the LumberKings over his six innings, scattering six hits, walking one, and striking out six.
The Lumberkings best chance for offense went to waste in the bottom of the third inning. Johnny Slater led off the frame with a triple to center but was then picked off of third by Hot Rods Catcher Danny De La Calle. Two batters later Luis Rengifo tripled to right center but was left stranded at third. Despite two triples the in the same inning the LumberKings failed to score a run.
Jack Anderson relieved Dugger to work the top of the eighth. The Hot Rods failed to get a man on base against Anderson (3-2), who worked a 1-2-3 inning of relief with a strikeout.
In the bottom of the eighth inning, Rengifo broke the tie. Orlando Romero (1-2) came out of the Hot Rods bullpen to work the inning and threw nothing but strikes to Rengifo to open the frame. On the fifth pitch of the at-bat, an 0-2 count, Rengifo lifted a 394 foot home run to right field that gave the LumberKings the only run of the game.
In the top of the ninth, Seth Elledge held the lead for Clinton with a 1-2-3 inning of relief that began with two strikeouts. In his third appearance with the LumberKings, Elledge earned his second save of the season.
The LumberKing's win marked the first series win over Bowling Green in Clinton in franchise history and the first time during the second half of the season that they have won back-to-back series.
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, 271 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