Cedar Rapids Kernels at Clinton Lumberkings
April 22nd, 2004
Game 1
| Cedar Rapids |
|
|
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
1 |
|
|
2 |
6 |
0 |
| Clinton |
|
|
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
1 |
1 |
0 |
|
X |
|
|
3 |
4 |
1 |
E-Frostad, LOB CR-4, CLI-6, 2B-Kendrick, Kinsler, Wishy, Frostad, 3B-Kendrick, Clark, CS-Kimpton, SACB-Grayson, Jacobsen 2
HB-Jacobsen (Simard), Clark (Simard), WP-Pullin
Umpires, H-Mark Ripperger, B-Clint Mahan
T-1:45, A-574
Clinton Herald
by Jon Gremmels
Take away the home runs, and switch the winning teams, and there was little difference between the two games when the Cedar Rapids Kernels and Clinton squared off in a Midwest League baseball doubleheader Thursday night at Alliant Energy Field.
Heck, just 25 second seperated the elapsed time of each game.
The Kernels and Lumberkings exchanged 3-2 victories, with Clinton salvaging a split in the second game that left it at the .500 mark overall (7-7) on the young season.
Each team had plenty to go away happy with, too.
"If you can play .500 on the road, it's always good and you have a chance," said Cedar Rapids manager Bobby Magallanes, whose team is tied with Kane County for first place in the West Division with a 9-5 record.
"We had real good pitching, starting with (Game 1 starter) Matt Lorenzo, " Clinton manager Carlos Subero said, "We played solid defense too. We had one error on a tough ball, and I thought it was an out."
The Lumberkings used just two pitchers in each game and they combined to strike out 21 batters, half the outs registered.
The only thing lacking for Clinton was a bunch of hits, but it still split despite totaling just seven in 14 innings.
"You've got to like it when you win with four hits", Subero said.
The key to accomplishing that was all four hits int he second game went for extra bases.
The first, a triple into the right field corner by catcher Cody Clark with no outs in the third inning, scored Brock Jacobesen, who was hit by a 1-2 pitch from Michel Simard (1-1) to open the inning. The run tied the game, but later Clark was thrown out trying to score for the second out in the inning when Larry Grayson grounded to third base.
The Lumberkings went ahead 2-1 in the fourth inning when Andrew Wishy led off with a double and scored on Emerson Frostad's one out double.
Ian Kinsler led off the fifth inning with his 10th double of the season, was sacrificed to third base by Grayson and scored on Juan Senrieso's groundout.
That was all the offense needed by pitchers Jesse Chavez, who improved to 3-1 and Gerald Smiley, who earned his second save.
Chavez allowed one hit in each of his five innings, walked two batters and struck out four. The only run he allowed came when Matt Pali led off the second inning with a walk, moved to second on a groundout and scored on Howie Kendrick's double.
"That's the first time this year that a pitcher has given us five innings, "Subero said. The pitch count for the first pitcher in Clinton's tandem system has been raised slightly the preious 60 pitch limit . Chavez threw 70 pitches, 'Then Gerald Smiley did a great job. He went right at them."
Smiley retired the first four batters he faved. Kendrick (3 for 3) spoiled the string with a one out triple to right center field. He scored on an error, when third baseman Frostad made a wide throw to first base