CLINTON, IA (June 30, 2017) - A Nick Thurman two-run homer was all the Clinton LumberKings could muster in a 6-2 loss to the Cedar Rapids Kernels on Friday night at Ashford University Field. The Kernels (4-5, 43-36) took the lead for good with a four-run rally in the top
CLINTON, IA (June 30, 2017) - A Nick Thurman two-run homer was all the Clinton LumberKings could muster in a 6-2 loss to the Cedar Rapids Kernels on Friday night at Ashford University Field. The Kernels (4-5, 43-36) took the lead for good with a four-run rally in the top of the seventh inning to drop the LumberKings (2-7, 33-43) in the series opener.
For the first four innings of the game both teams traded zeros. Brandon Miller took the ball for Clinton and shutout the Kernels through his first four inning of work. It was not until the top of the fourth that Miller allowed his only runs of the night. The fourth opened with a Lewin Diaz home run to right, his ninth of the year, and was followed two batters later with a Hank Morrison solo home run to left that was his second long fly of the season.
Miller then settled down and dominated the Kernels at points setting a new professional career-high for strikeouts, nine, while walking none.
Equally impressive was Cedar Rapids starter Domenick Carlini IV who shutout the LumberKings through his first five innings. The only Clinton runs of the night came against Carlini when Nick Thurman tied the game at two on a two-run homer to right. His third homer of the year. Following the home run, Carlini was replaced by Ryan Mason.
Mason (1-1) shutout the LumberKings over 1.1 innings to earn his first win of the season. Colton Davis then finished off the LumberKings with two shutout innings of relief as Clinton was held to just three hits on the night.
The game was decided in the top of the seventh inning when the Kernels rallied for four runs against LumberKings reliever Ronald Dominguez. The first three Kernels batters reached in the inning to load the bases but looked as though they would be stranded when Dominguez (0-5) retired the next batters without a run coming home. Christian Cavaness then put Cedar Rapids on top for good with a two run single to right and was followed by a Travis Blankenhorn two-run double to center that capped the rally.
The loss is the Lumberkings sixth in their last seven games.
The LumberKings will continue the 7-game homestand with game two against the Kernels on Saturday night. Right-handed pitcher Robert Dugger (1-1, 2.39) will take the ball for Clinton and face Cedar Rapids right-handed pitcher Clark Beker (7-2, 2.89). First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 PM (CDT) with the pregame show beginning at 6:15 PM (CDT) on 100.3 FM WCCI, Erik Oas is on the call. Stay after the game for the third instalment of the "stay late Saturday" concert series with Stockwell's performing in the picnic garden following the conclusion of the game
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
