CLINTON, IA - The Clinton LumberKings scored four of their five runs with two outs on their way to a 5-1 victory over the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers on Tuesday afternoon at Ashford University Field. The Rattlers collected seven hits, but couldn't solve Clinton starting pitcher Ryne Inman and fell below
CLINTON, IA - The Clinton LumberKings scored four of their five runs with two outs on their way to a 5-1 victory over the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers on Tuesday afternoon at Ashford University Field. The Rattlers collected seven hits, but couldn't solve Clinton starting pitcher Ryne Inman and fell below .500.
Ariel Sandoval continued his hot start for the LumberKings when he hit a two-out, solo home run in the bottom of the first inning to put Clinton ahead 1-0. Sandoval has hit four homers in the first five games of the 2018 Midwest League season.
Clinton (3-2) used the longball to add to their lead in the second inning. Johnny Adams hit a leadoff homer in the frame and the LumberKings were up 2-0.
Wisconsin starting pitcher Christian Taugner retired the next eight batters he faced, but allowed a two-out single to Adams in the bottom of the fourth. Ryan Costello was next and he lined a 3-2 pitch from Taugner into the corner in left. Adams was running on the pitch and scored without a throw to the plate for a 3-0 lead.
The Rattlers (2-3) cut into the deficit in the top of the sixth. Pat McInerney crushed a solo home run to left-center with one out. The homer was the second of the season for McInerney.
That run was the only one allowed by Inman. The right-hander struck out seven and allowed four hits while walking one over 5-2/3 innings.
The LumberKings rallied against reliever Jenri Montas in the bottom of the sixth. The first three batters reached on singles to start the inning. Montas got the next batter to ground into a 3-2-3 double play. However, Greifer Andrade singled up the middle to deliver both runners and the LumberKings were up 5-1.
Wisconsin tried to get a two-out rally going in the top of the seventh inning when Zach Clark and Franly Mallen singled against Clinton reliever Adonis De La Cruz, but they could not cash in the opportunity and would not threaten to score again.
McInerney, who doubled in the first inning, and Clark, who had two singles, were the only two Rattlers to had more than one hit in Tuesday's game.
Game three of the series at Ashford University Field is scheduled for Wednesday morning. Carlos Herrera (0-0, 0.00) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers. Nick Wells (1-0, 3.60) is set to start for Clinton. Game time is 11:00am. The radio broadcast is on AM1280, WNAM starting with the Potawatomi Hotel & Casino Pregame Show at 10:40am. The broadcast is also available on the TuneIn Radio and IHeartRadio apps.
