Shutout win is good for fifth straight win

Clinton, IA (June 23, 2018) - Ray Kerr and Scott Boches combined to shutout the Kane County Cougars as the Clinton LumberKings coasted to a 3-0 win on Saturday night at Ashford University Field. The win was the LumberKings (3-0, 42-31) fifth straight and will mean a series win over the Cougars (0-3, 35-37) to open the second half.
Kerr (3-6) picked up his third win of the season with one of his strongest starts of the year. He worked 6.1 innings and held the Cougars scoreless during his time out while scattering four hits, walking none, and striking out six.
Only once during the game did Kane County have two men reach in the same inning and never once had more than one man on base at any one time.
Boches followed Kerr out of the bullpen and continued the stingy LumberKings pitching with a 2.2 innings of shutout relief work. He earned his second save of the season for his time out and struck out five batters including the first three that he faced. Boches allowed only one Cougar to reach against him when Yan Sanchez reached on a Johnny Adams fielding error in the ninth.
The LumberKings backed the impressive pitching with a just enough offense. They broke the scoreless tie in the bottom of the fifth when leadoff singles by Eugene Helder and Keegan McGovern put runners at first and third. A wild pitch by Cougars starter Jeff Bain put Clinton on top 1-0.
Helder represented much of the offense for the LumberKings. He went 3-for-3 at the plate with a double, a run scored, and two RBIs. His two-run double in the bottom of the sixth allowed the LumberKings to pull away from Kane County.
Bain (6-2) took the loss for the Cougars to snap a winning streak that had reached five games. Over his six innings of work he allowed three runs on five hits while walking none and striking out three. The loss was just the second of the season that has been hung on Bain.
The LumberKings will meet the Cougars for the finale of the four-game series on Sunday afternoon. Clinton will give the ball to right-hander Ryne Inman (3-4, 5.19) while the Cougars will tap righty Johan Duran (3-2, 3.51). First pitch is scheduled for 2:00 PM. Fans looking to listen to the call can hear Erik Oas at 1:45 PM with the pregame show on 100.3 FM WCCI.
All Sunday's at Ashford University Field are Family Funday Sunday." All kids can take part in free face painting, balloon artists, and postgame kids runs the bases all courtesy of Children's Discovery Center. Arrive early as the first 500 fans through the gates will received a Seattle Mariners themed BBQ mitt giveaway.
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