Clinton Lumberkings at Burlington Bees
April 27th, 2004
| Clinton |
|
|
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
1 |
2 |
0 |
|
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
|
4 |
5 |
0 |
| Burlington |
|
|
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
0 |
5 |
0 |
|
0 |
0 |
X |
|
|
6 |
6 |
1 |
E-Sevilla, LOB CLI-9, BUR-4, 2B-Richardson, Grayson, HR-Wishy (5th inn/2 runs/Mullis), Grayson (4th Inn/Solo/Goodman), Maier (5th inn/Grand Slam/Mattoon), SB-Sevilla, CS-Maier
Herrera faced 4 batters in 5th
HBP-Kreuzer (Goodman), Hatcher (Goodman), Figueroa (Herrera), Sevilla 2 (Herrera), McFall (Herrera), Frostad (Kaanoi), WP-Goodman, BB-Frostad, SO-Donachie, Senreiso, Sanchez
Umpires, H-Nick Monaco, B-Jesse Redwine
T-2:33, A-1,431
Clinton Herald
For half of Tuesday's game, it looked like the Clinton Lumberkings would extended their win string to six.
But then the Burlington Bees caught fire, stinging Clinton for five runs in the bottom of the fifth inning on their way to a 6-4 Midwest League victory.
Despite the loss, the Lumberkings remained in a tie atop the Western Divison standings with an 11-8 mark.
Burlington got on the board first with a run in the second inning. Anibal Figueroa and Walter Sevilla were both hit by pitches before Kila kaaihue delievered an RBI single up the middle.
Clinton tied the game with a run in the fourth on Larry Grayson's solo homer to left.
The Lumberkings went ahead 3-1 in the fifth. With two outs, Emerson Frostad walked and Andrew Wishy bashed a two run homer to right off eventual winning pitcher Jake Mullis (2-0).
But then things caved in for the visitors. Sevilla was hit by a pitch again to start the bottom of the fifth. Kaaihue followed with a single to left before Cesar Herrera (1-1) belted Brian McFall with a pitch to load the bases. Herrera's four hit batsmen were one short of tying the Midwest League record for a game.
Chris Lubanski then belted an RBI single to centerfield, chasing Herrera in favor of Brian Mattoon. After Mattoon struck out Angel Sanchez. Mitch Maier smashed a grand slam homer to right center field, clearing the bases and putting the Bees ahead 6-3.
Clinton did scratch out one more run in the eighth. Kevin Richardson led off with a double down the left field line and scored on Grayson's single to left center. Kahi Kaanoi then came in to put out the fire. He finished out the game to earn his second save.
Clinton has an off day today, but returns to Alliant Energy Field on Thursday to open a four game homestand against Beloit. Matt Farnum (0-0, 1.80) is slated to take the mound for the Lumberkings.
Burlington HawkEye
by Susan Denk
Mitch Maier was just trying to drive home one run when he came tot he plate with the bases loaded and one out in the fifth inning. No heroics, just a hit to erase a one run deficit.
Maier got a hit all right, a grand slam that cleared the wall in right center field and left Clinton right fielder Larry Grayson on his knees with his head in his hands.
The home run pushed the Burlington Bees into a lead they would not relinquist in a 6-4 Midwest League win against the Lumberkings Tuesday afternoon at Community Field.
It was the first grand slam for Maier at any level of baseball.
"I was looking for a pitch I could drive, for me that's iner half of the plate." said Maier. "With one out, I actually wanted to get the run in, most importantly."
"Oh well, I hit it hard enough for a home run," he added with a smile.
Maier hit the ball out of the park while other batters were getting hit by pitches.
Between the teams, seven batters were hit. Clinton starter Cesar Herrera hit four. Bees starter Chris Goodman hit two and reliever Kahi Kaanoi hit one. Bulington second baseman Walter Sevilla was hit twice by Herrera.
"In our case, we're trying to pitch inside. I'm sure them too," said Burlingotn manager Jim Gabella. "They have to be able to pitch inside and the ball got away." Goodman may have had one of the uglier one hit performances in Burlington history. The right hander worked four innings, striking out three and walking three. But he threw one wild pitch and had two hit batsmen.
The victory saved the Bees (8-11) from being swept from their long time Mississippi River rival. The Lumberkings (11-8) won both ends of Monday's double header and also won Sunday's contest.
Clinton overcame a 4-0 deficit in the second game Monday to complete the double header sweep. Tuesday's win was more meaningful for Burlington after giving away that game.
"After they beat us the first three games, to finally get one, we needed that," said Maier. "We gave one away (Monday). We're going on the road for awhile so we needed a win to get us going."
Kila Kaaihue collected half of the Bees' hits Tuesday. The first baseman was 3 for 3 with an RBI and a run scored.
Kaaihue is happy with the way his season has started, even though his .280 batting average might now show it.
"I worked on some things that I struggled with last year and tried to improve on them." Kaaihue said, "I think I'm doing a good job on it. My numbers don't really show it too well yet. It's a pretty good accomplishment for what I've been doing so far."
Kaaihue also sees a difference between this year's team and last year's as each struggled at the begining of the season.
"I know because I was on last year's team, we're not pressing as much, which is good." said Kaaihue. "We got a couple more wins than we did last year so it's a lot easier to play, easier when you're not stressing for wins."
"We have a good group of guys. Pitching has been steady all year. We just have to hit the ball a little bit better and wins will come our way."
Burlington reliever Steve Bray has been promoted to High A Wilmington to take the place of Jonah Bayliss, who injured a lat muscle Sunday. In three appearances with the Bees, Bray had no record and a 1.00 ERA. He allowed 10 hits and three runs (one earned) in nine innings. Bray walked one and struck out 11. Taking Bray's placed on the Bees roster is right hander Robbie McClellan. McClellan was a 12th round pick last year out of Arizona State University. With the Advanced Rookie squad last season McClellan was 4-3 with a 4.00 ERA and one save. In one appearance with Wilmington, he worked a scoreless inning for a save.
How They Scored
Burlington 2nd
Graham grounded out to first. Figuereo hit by pitch. Donachie struck out. Sevilla hit by pitch, Figuereo to second. Kaaihue singled to center, Sevilla to second, Figuereo scored. McFall flied to right.
Clinton 4th
Kreuzer lined out to short. Grayson homered to left. Hatcher flied to left. Swope lined out to left.
Clinton 5th
Mullis to pitch for Goodman. Senreiso struck out. Benjamin flied out to left. Frostad walked. Wishy homered to right, Frostad scored. Richardson grounded out to catcher.
Burlington 5th
Sevilla hit by pitch. Kaaihue singled to right, Sevilla to third. McFall hit by pitch, bases loaded. Lubanski singled to center, McFall to second, Kaaihue to third, Sevilla scored. Mattoon to pitch for Herrera. Sanchez struck out. Maier homered to rigth center. Graham grounded out to second. Figuereo flied to center
Clinton 8th
Richardson doubled down left field line. Kreuzer grounded out to third. Grayson singled to left center, Richardson scored. Kaanoi to pitch for Mullis. Hatcher grounded out to second, Grayson to second. Swope grounded out to short.