LumberKings hold on for fourth straight win

Geneva, IL (July 3, 2018) - The Clinton LumberKings held off a ninth inning rally by the Kane County Cougars to take their fourth straight game with a 5-3 win on Tuesday night at Northwestern Medicine Field. The LumberKings (9-3, 48-34) registered 14 hits with Joseph Rosa and Zach Scott each collecting three in what was the Cougars (4-9, 39-43) fourth straight loss.
LumberKings starter, Clay Chandler dominated Kane County over his first four innings. The righty was perfect through his first four frames and earned the win with a 5.1 inning performance in which he allowed two runs on four hits while walking one and striking out seven.  
The LumberKings scored the game's first run in the top of the second inning. Keegan McGovern singled with one out and scored from first when Scott doubled to right center and Cougars center fielder Luis Silverio committed a fielding error by kicking the ball to the wall.
Clinton then added to their lead with two more runs in the top of the fifth inning. Three straight singles against Kane County starter Jeff Bain loaded the bases with nobody out and Ryan Costello drove in the first of his three runs with a double to left center that put the LumberKings on top 3-0.
Bain (7-3) was hung with the loss for Kane County for a five-inning outing in which he allowed three runs, two earned, on eight hits while walking one and striking out seven.
The Cougars then tallied their only runs against Chandler (5-1) in the bottom of the fifth. Ernie De La Trinidad drew a leadoff walk, the Cougars first base runner of the game, and Ryan Grotjohn doubled him home with a fly ball to left. Grotjohn then scored when the next batter Yan Sanchez singled to pull Kane County to within one.
The two teams remained separated by just the one run when the LumberKings added two insurance runs in the top of the ninth. One out singles by Rosa and Ariel Sandoval set the stage for Costello's RBI single up the middle, his third RBI of the night. Eugene Helder then scored Sandoval with an RBI ground out at third.
The Cougars, as they did a night ago, rallied in the bottom of the ninth. Collin Kober in his second inning of work, allowed a leadoff single to De La Trinidad and walk to Grotjohn that put runners at second and third with nobody out. Sanchez then lined an RBI single to right to score De La Trinidad. Kober buckled down to induce a double play ball from Tim Susnara and then struck out Eudy Ramos to end the game and earn his fifth save of the season.
The LumberKings will head home for the Fourth of July in a brief two-game meeting with the Kane County Cougars starting on Wednesday night at Ashford University Field. Clinton will throw left-hander Ray Kerr (3-7, 3.62) while the Cougars will counter with righty Jhoan Duran (4-3, 4.60). First pitch for 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 tune in radio ap at 6:15 PM with the pregame show.
Wednesday's Fourth of July game will be a sell out and fans are advised to purchase their tickets in advance. Arrive early for a patriotic themed giveaway from Regalia Manufacturing and of course stay late for biggest postgame fireworks show of the year thanks to our friends at Billion Auto of Clinton!
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