CLINTON, IA - The Clinton LumberKings grabbed an early lead and held the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers to five hits for a 4-0 win in game one of Sunday's doubleheader at Ashford University Field.The LumberKings (59-5 overall, 20-22 second half) took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning.
CLINTON, IA - The Clinton LumberKings grabbed an early lead and held the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers to five hits for a 4-0 win in game one of Sunday's doubleheader at Ashford University Field.
The LumberKings (59-5 overall, 20-22 second half) took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Joseph Rosa drew a one-out walk on four pitches and stole second. Keegan McGovern drove in Rosa with a single up the middle on a 3-2 pitch and Clinton had the early advantage.
Johnny Adams started the LumberKing second inning with a double. Rainis Silva singled with one out to get Adams home for a 2-0 lead.
Wisconsin starting pitcher Nelson Hernández retired the first two batters he faced in the bottom of the third, but a throwing error on Gilbert Lara allowed Eugene Helder to take second base. Dimas Ojeda made the Rattlers pay for the miscue with a sharp single to center to score Helder and the LumberKings were up 3-0.
Ariel Sandoval added to the Clinton lead with a leadoff home run in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Wisconsin (51-60, 20-22) managed just two hits off Clinton starting pitcher Steven Moyers in the first five innings. Both hits were two-out singles - one in the second by Eddie Silva and the other in the fifth by Jay Feliciano.
The Rattlers got their best chance against Moyers in the top of the sixth inning. Zach Clark singled with one out and an error on a potential double play ball put runners at the corners. Moyers escaped with a popup and a routine fly to left to maintain the four-run lead. The left-hander allowed three hits, struck out three, and walked none over his six innings of work for his fourth win of the season.
Sam Delaplane relieved Moyers to start the seventh inning and gave up singles to Diaz and Feliciano, but he retired the next two batters to close out the shutout.
The loss denied the Rattlers a chance to reach the .500 mark in the second half.
