Marathon Game Concludes with LumberKings Walk-Off Loss

SOUTH BEND, IN (May 5-6, 2017) - One day was not enough for the Clinton LumberKings who fought the South Bend Cubs to a 6-6 tie through 18 innings on Friday night at Four Winds Field. The game concluded Saturday evening with the LumberKings falling to the Cubs, 7-6 in the 19^th inning, on a Johnny Pereda infield single.
The game did not appear to be headed to its marathon conclusion early on. After the LumberKings pushed a run across in the top of the first inning, the Cubs took control of the game with a run in the bottom of the first inning and four more in the second.
LumberKings starter Ljay Newsome rode a four-game winning streak into the contest, but struggled over his five innings of work. The Cubs put four runs on the board in the second inning, a rally that was started by three consecutive hits to open the frame. Cubs centerfielder Luis Ayala doubled home two runs to start the scoring and came into score along with Zach Short on a fielding error by LumberKings first basemen Nick Zammarelli III.
The four-run lead held up for South Bend through seventh innings, with the LumberKings trailing 6-2.
In the top of the eighth inning, Anthony Jimenez led off with a single to center that began the LumberKings own four-run rally. Yojhan Quevedo, activated from the disabled list earlier in the day, reached on one of the five fielding errors by the Cubs to put runners at first and third with one man out. Gareth Morgan followed with a line drive double behind the bag at third that brought home two runs and put the LumberKings to within two. Rayder Ascanio flew out to right for the second out of the inning but the game was tied one pitch later when Luis Liberato lined a two run home just over the wall in right for his team leading third home run of the season. The homer tied the game at six, where it would remain for the next 11 innings.
Robert Dugger, Ronald Dominguez, Marvin Gorgas, Michael Koval, and Jeffeson Medina combined to shutout South Bend over the next 11 innings. Following the 18^th inning, the game was suspended due to curfew and concluded on Saturday in advance of the regularly scheduled Saturday night contest.
When the game was resumed in the top of the 19^th inning on Saturday evening Jack Anderson took over for the LumberKings in the bottom of the in the 19^th. The righty was the seventh pitcher to be used by the LumberKings in the game.
Anderson (1-1) gave up a single to leadoff hitter Yeiler Peguero who advanced to second on a stolen base. A sacrifice bunt by Cubs catcher Tyler Payne moved Peguero to third and Kevonte Mitchell was intentionally walked, the fifth issued by LumberKings pitching in the game. Two pitches later Pereda chopped a high ground ball down the third base line. Anderson field the grounder but his throw home hit the back of Peguero who slid home for the games winning run.
Manuel Rondon earned the win for the Cubs with a his first relief outing of the year for South Bend. Rondon (3-1), worked 1-2-3 in the top of the 19^th inning to earn his third win of the year.
The fun continues with the regularly scheduled Saturday night game. First pitch is slated for 6:05 PM (CDT). The LumberKings will give the ball to lefty Danny Garcia (1-2, 5.75) and face right-handed pitcher Dylan Cease (0-1, 1.90). The pregame show will begin on www.lumberkings.com at 5:50 PM with Erik Oas 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