Four homers in win, Slam not enough in loss
Clinton, IA (August 17, 2018) - The Clinton LumberKings split their doubleheader with the Beloit Snappers on Friday night at Ashford University Field, taking game one 8-5, and falling in game two 6-5. Four home runs by the LumberKings (25-29, 64-60) in game one topped the Snappers (30-23, 62-60) while a
Clinton, IA (August 17, 2018) - The Clinton LumberKings split their doubleheader with the Beloit Snappers on Friday night at Ashford University Field, taking game one 8-5, and falling in game two 6-5. Four home runs by the LumberKings (25-29, 64-60) in game one topped the Snappers (30-23, 62-60) while a Dimas Ojeda grand slam in game two was not enough.
GAME ONE
The LumberKings took game one behind a barrage of home runs against Snappers pitching. Johnny Adams, Keegan McGovern, Ariel Sandoval, and Joseph Rosa each homered in an 8-5 Clinton win.
For much of the game the LumberKings trailed. Mickey McDonald homered off Clinton starter Clay Chandler in the top of the second to stake the Snappers to a 2-0 lead.
Adams answered the two-run clout with a two-run homer of his own in the bottom of the second off Beloit starter Ivan Andueza. The home run was his 11th of the year and briefly tied the game at two.
Beloit quickly reclaimed their lead with another home run in the fourth inning. Ryan Gridley collected his second round tripper of the year with a home run to left off Chandler (8-3). The Snappers then added to their lead with a run in the fifth on a sacrifice fly by Logan Farrar.
The LumberKings broke out for a five-run rally in the bottom of the fifth. Following walks to Zach Scott and Joseph Rosa, Keegan McGovern launched his 11th home run of the year over the wall in left center to turn a two-run deficit into a one run lead. The home run ended the night for Andueza (3-9) who was given the loss for his 4.1 innings of work.
The scoring did not end with Andueza's departure as Ariel Sandoval slugged his 17th home run of the year to stretch the lead to 7-5.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, the LumberKings capped the scoring for the game with Joseph Rosa's fourth home run of the season.
Randy Bell earned his first save of the season for Clinton with two shutout innings of relief in the sixth and seventh innings.
GAME TWO
In game two the LumberKings mustered just one hit against a collection of four Beloit Pitchers and fell 6-5. Ojeda's sixth inning grand slam was the only hit of the night for Clinton in game two as the Snappers rode early offense to a doubleheader split and series win.
The scoring started in the top of the second inning against LumberKings starter Ray Kerr. Miguel Mercedes lined a one-out double to left center field to initiate a four-run rally in which Beloit sent eight men to the plate.
The Snappers added two more runs in the following inning when Mercedes slugged his fourth home run of the season off the top of the scoreboard in left center field for a two-run home run and 6-0 Beloit lead.
Kerr (4-11) did not make it through the third and was hung with the loss for his 2.1 innings of work. He allowed six runs, three earned, on four hits while walking two and striking out one.
The advantage held up for Beloit with strong pitching from starter Gus Varland and reliever Ty Damron. Varland struck out nine over his 3.2 innings of work while Damron (4-2) earned the win for 1.1 innings of relief work in which he struck out three. Beloit pitching combined to strikeout 15 in game two of the doubleheader.
Trailing 6-0 in the bottom of the sixth, the LumberKings rallied against poor pitching by the Snappers. Six walks were issued in the inning with four-straight to open the frame. The LumberKings scored their first run before recording their first hit. Dimas Ojeda followed the four straight walks with a grand slam to right that made it a one run game and went for his eighth home run of the season.
Nick Highberger allowed the grand slam to Ojeda but stayed in to work the final two innings and earn the save, his fourth of the year.
The LumberKings will now hit the road for the final multi-series road trip of the year with the opener of a three-game series with the Kane County Cougars starting on Saturday night. Clinton will throw righty Scott Boches (2-5, 3.30) while the Cougars will counter with lefty Lane Ratliff (5-1, 2.85). First pitch in game one is slated for 6:30 PM. Fans looking to listen to the game can hear Erik Oas on the call on 100.3 FM WCCI and online at lumberkings.com via the tunein radio ap at 6:15 PM with the pregame show.
About the LumberKings
The LumberKings, the only remaining Charter Member of the Midwest League, are in their 63rd season in the league and their 10th as an affiliate of the Seattle Mariners. Since the club's inception in 1937, 280 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. Advertising and tickets for the 2018 season are available by calling (563) 242-0727 or by visiting lumberkings.com
Don't sleep on these prospects at Spring Breakout -- 1 from each team
The second edition of Spring Breakout is bursting with high-profile prospects. Seventy members of MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 are slated to participate, including Red Sox outfielder Roman Anthony (No. 2), Tigers outfielder Max Clark (No. 6), Red Sox infielder Kristian Campbell (No. 7), Rays shortstop Carson Williams (No. 9) and
Meet the 14 women who run MiLB teams
From California to Massachusetts, from Arkansas to Iowa, leadership in professional baseball is evolving. Coming into the 2025 season, there are 14 women in general manager positions across Minor League Baseball. When most fans think of the GMs in baseball, they likely assume the job is all about building a
2024 Draft class gets early chance to take center stage at Spring Breakout
When players are taken in the early rounds of the MLB Draft, it’s easy to dream about seeing them under the bright lights of the big leagues, but a common refrain has been that fans don't get to see those players for years after they're selected. Thanks to Spring Breakout,
From Spring Breakout to MLB? Here are nine players who could soon be in The Show
The inaugural Spring Breakout in 2024 provided a platform for fans to meet many of baseball's top prospects before they began standing out in the Majors shortly thereafter. Paul Skenes striking out Jackson Holliday. Jackson Chourio reaching twice and scoring a run. Jace Jung hitting a pair of homers.
Brewers' 17-year-old international signee draws comparisons to Chourio
PHOENIX – A farm system loses an elite-level prospect like Jackson Chourio, who was the No. 2 overall prospect in baseball at the start of the 2024 season, to the big leagues, it’s easy to understand that it would take a hit in this year’s farm system rankings. So don’t
Cubs have MLB stars AND loaded farm system
MESA, Ariz. – It’s a testament to where a farm system is when a Top 100-caliber hitter gets traded away and there’s still a desire to tout the bats. The Cubs traded Cam Smith to the Astros in the Kyle Tucker deal, but they still have seven players on the
Griffin boosts Pirates system, known for producing arms, with some pop
BRADENTON, Fla. – The Pirates’ strength in pitching is obvious. This is the organization that drafted Paul Skenes after all and saw him become the National League All-Star starter one year later. Jared Jones and Mitch Keller serve as more developmental success stories on the bump, and Top 100 prospects
New Rays prospect additions fitting right into the organizational mold
PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. -- Thirteen members of the Rays’ Top 30 prospect list weren’t in the organization at this time last year. Two arrived in the 2024 Draft, one was a 2025 international signee and a whopping 10 have come over in trades since last March. Normally with that level
Headlined by big-name bats, Mariners' system strong on pitching depth, too
PEORIA, Ariz. -- The Mariners placed fifth in MLB Pipeline's new farm system rankings, thanks in large part to their seven Top 100 Prospects. That total ties them with the Cubs for the most in baseball, and all seven of them are hitters. Don't get the impression that the organization
All eyes turn to hurlers Sykora, Susana in Nats camp
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Last year in Spring Training, Nationals manager Dave Martinez named the section of young hitting prospects in big league camp led by James Wood and Dylan Crews "Hope Row." While Robert Hassell III and Brady House are still prospects, Wood has graduated and Crews will
Here are the prospects with the best tools in Spring Breakout
The inaugural edition of Spring Breakout was a rousing success last year. Sixteen games showcased not only many of baseball's best prospects but also some of the most jaw-dropping tools in the Minors. Of the 10 best individual attributes we highlighted a year ago, nine belonged to players who reached
Boston's 'Core Four' hitting principles breeding prospect success
FORT MYERS, Fla. – Boston was built to be a shining city on a hill, according to John Winthrop. Four centuries later, the Hub’s top three baseball prospects are meant to be a shining example atop the Red Sox farm system. Roman Anthony, Kristian Campbell and Marcelo Mayer – the
Phils' teen catching prospect using ABS challenge experience to his advantage
CLEARWATER, Fla. – One of the storylines of Spring Training has been the implementation of the ABS challenge system in select ballparks across Arizona and Florida. But those in the Sunshine State might be a little more familiar with the tech than their southwestern counterparts. The Florida State League first
Texas' exciting crop of pitching prospects looks to spin the narrative
SURPRISE, Ariz. -- The Rangers haven't signed a fully homegrown pitching All-Star since Martín Pérez in 2007 and have ranked better than the Major League average in run prevention just once in the last 11 seasons. Not coincidentally, they won 90 games and the World Series when that happened in
The 10 best 2025 Spring Breakout rosters, ranked
Ding, ding, who’s ready for Round 2? Last year’s inaugural edition of Spring Breakout gave fans early looks at Paul Skenes, Jackson Chourio, Pete Crow-Armstrong, James Wood, Jackson Holliday, Ceddanne Rafaela and many other young stars who graduated off prospect lists in 2024. Not only does it serve as a
Yankees' prospect gains coming up long at short
TAMPA, Fla. -- The Yankees have a fascinating shortstop decision on their hands. You could say it’s the most interesting one since you-know-who retired in 2014. New York is battling going with a veteran presence in Isiah Kiner-Falefa or a prospect in Anthony Volpe or Oswald Peraza. It’s still too
Mets looking for top prospects to complement veteran stars
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- The last time Juan Soto played in a Minor League game was back in 2018, when in the span of 39 games at age 19 he went from A ball to High-A to Double-A and then to the big leagues with the Nationals and never
'Eephus' director Lund talks movie on podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Minors radio legend exits the booth in Birmingham
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from his newsletter is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
MLB's 2025 farm system rankings -- with a new No. 1
It’s time to crown a new king. After a three-year run for the Orioles atop our preseason farm system rankings, they’ve stepped off the throne, making way for the Tigers. The O’s had slipped from the top spot in our 2024 midseason rankings as they’d graduated a number of prospects