LumberKings come up short in series finale

CLINTON, IA (May 21, 2017) - John Schuknecht hit his first two home runs of the year for the Burlington Bees as the Clinton LumberKings fell 5-2 on Sunday afternoon at Ashford University field. The LumberKings (16-24) were held to just two runs by a combination of four Bees (14-25) pitchers.
For the first time during the four-game series the LumberKings did not allow a run in the first inning. After allowing the Bees to score 11 runs in the first inning over the first three games of the series, Clinton starter Nick Wells worked a 1-2-3 opening frame to break the Bees string of early success.
It was the LumberKings who struck first scoring a run in the bottom of the first inning. The tally was made possible by Bees starter Joe Gatto's wildness in the opening frame. Luis Rengifo was hit by a pitch with one out in the inning and wasted no time in stealing second base. Joe Rizzo then walked, and joined Rengifo for a double steal with Anthony Jimenez at the plate to put runners at second and third. Two pitches later, Jimenez grounded out to short to score Rengifo for the first run of the game.
Rengifo ran wild on the Bees in the series, he stole three bases during Sunday's game to bring his total for the series to eight.
The Bees answered the LumberKings run in the top of the second inning with Schuknecht's first home run of the game. On Wells (1-4) second pitch of the inning, Schuknecht hit a high fly ball to left that carried over the fence and hit low off a light tower for the Bees first run of the game.
In the top of the third inning, the Bees took the lead for the first time of the day. One out singles by Jahmai Jones and Jack Kruger were followed by a Jordan Zimmerman walk that loaded the bases. Schuknecht got back into the scoring for Burlington with an RBI sacrifice fly to center that gave the Bees a 2-1 lead.
In their final tally of the day, Clinton tied the game in the bottom of the third inning when Jimenez singled home Rengifo for his second RBI of the game.
The Bees took the lead for good in the top of the fifth inning on a Kruger RBI ground out that scored Juan Moreno.
Burlington's pitching held up after starter Joe Gatto was pulled following the fourth inning. Jackson Zarubin was the first arm to be called on by the Bees and shutout the LumberKings over his two innings of work to earn his second win of the season.
Jonah Wesely and Blake Smith each made their second appearance of the series for the Bees and continued to stifle LumberKings batters with three more innings of shutout baseball. Smith earned his first save of the year after holding off the LumberKings in the bottom of the ninth.
Schucknecht added the final run of the game with his second home run of the contest off LumberKings reliever Robert Dugger. Schucknecht, who had no home runs on the season entering the game, hit two for his second professional multi home run game.
The LumberKings will now hit the road for a four-game series with the first place Cedar Rapids Kernels. Right-handed pitcher Ljay Newsome (4-3, 4.87) will take the ball for Clinton and face Cedar Rapids's right-handed pitcher Sean Poppen (2-1, 2.38). First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 PM (CDT) with the pregame show beginning at 6:20 PM (CDT) on 100.3 FM WCCI Erik Oas is on the call.  
About the LumberKings
The LumberKings, the only remaining Charter Member of the Midwest League, are playing their 62nd season in the league and their ninth as an affiliate of the Seattle Mariners. Since the club's inception in 1937, 270 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. Tickets to all 70 home games are available by calling (563) 242-0727 or by visiting lumberkings.com