Offense awakens in 9-5 LumberKings win

PEORIA, IL (June 11, 2017) - A night after being held to just two hits, the Clinton LumberKings offense exploded for 11 hits in a 9-5 win over the Peoria Chiefs on Sunday afternoon at Dozer Park. Johmbeyker Morales, Gareth Morgan, and Luis Rengifo each homered in an offensive outburst.
Th lead traded hands four times early on in the game. Nick Wells started for Clinton and allowed a two out solo home run to Andrew Young that staked the Chiefs (27-35) to an early 1-0 lead.
The LumberKings (26-34) took their first lead of the game in the following inning. Anthony Jimenez and Morgan drew leadoff walks and were driven home two batters later on a two out two-run double by Morales. The hit from Morales missed a home run by inches, hitting high off the wall in left for the LumberKings first runs of the game.
Again, the lead changed hands in the second inning. Juan Yepez hit one of his two home runs to put Peoria back on top 3-2. Yepez had a break out performance at the plate going 2-for-4 with two home runs, four RBI, and two runs scores. His second home run of the game came in the bottom the third inning, scoring the Chiefs final runs of the afternoon.
Clinton took the lead for good in the top of the third inning. Luis Rengifo tied the game with a solo home run to left center field off Chiefs starter John Kilichowski. Morgan slugged the second home run of the inning for the LumberKings with a mammoth clout to left that gave the LumberKings a 5-3 lead.
Morgan's home run was his seventh of the year, tying the team lead, and was estimated to have traveled 400 feet with an exit velocity of 112 MPH.
The LumberKings chased Kilichowski (0-6) from the game in the fourth inning following a Morales home run to left. The home run was Morales first of the season and his third RBI of the game.
The rest of the LumberKings offense belonged to Luis Liberato who matched a franchise record for triples in a single game with two. His first, led-off the top of the sixth and turned into a run on a Rengifo sacrifice fly to center.
Liberato's second triple of the game came in the top of the eighth inning when he, again, scored on a Rengifo sacrifice fly.
Liberato leads the league in three baggers with nine on the year and is on pace to break the single-season record for triples by a LumberKing set by Dick Kenworthy in 1961 with 13.
Wells (2-6) earned his second win of the season for Clinton before turning the ball over to Kyle Wilcox and Jack Anderson who shutout the Chiefs over the final four innings to preserve the LumberKings win.
The LumberKings conclude their four-game series with the Peoria Chiefs on Monday afternoon. Left-handed pitcher Danny Garcia (5-4, 5.46) will take the ball for Clinton and face Peoria's right-handed pitcher Bryan Dobzanski (1-5, 4.70) First pitch is scheduled for 12:00 PM (CDT) with the pregame show beginning at 11:45 AM (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