Published: April 15, 2008 11:29 am            

L-Kings streak ends at 7

CLINTON — Fresh off a sweep of the West Michigan Whitecaps the Clinton LumberKings looked to restart their rivalry with the Quad City River Bandits.

Quad City catcher Dave Carpenter’s two-out, two-run single was the game winner for the rival River Bandits, giving them a 6-5 victory at Alliant Energy Field Monday night.

Clinton starter Jorge Quintero struggled early, giving up three runs in the first inning. Adron Chambers started the inning with a walk.

He was followed by 2007 Cardinals first-round pick Pete Kozma who hit a double to right field. Andrew Brown walked to load the bases.

Charlie Kingery cracked the second double of the inning, scoring Chambers and Kozma. Brown scored on a fielder’s choice by Domnit Bolivar, maKing it 3-0.

“Quintero struggled early, but did settle down nicely” L-Kings skipper Mike Micucci said.

The LumberKings cut the lead to one in the fifth inning. With two outs in the frame Andres James reached on a fielder’s choice.

He was followed by center fielder Engel Beltre who doubled. Renny Osuna’s squeaker to second allowed both James and Beltre to score to make it 3-2.

The River Bandits tacked on a run in the eighth to go up 4-2. The LumberKings came right back in the bottom of the inning.

With two outs River Bandit J.D. Stambaugh walked both Tim Smith and Jonathan Greene. L-Kings newcomer Mitch Moreland then doubled home both Smith and Greene.

Moreland took third on the throw to home. The Bandits would bring in Francisco Samuel to put out the fire. The LumberKings finally took the lead as a Samuel pitch couldn’t be handled by Carpenter, giving the LumberKings a 5-4 advantage.

In the ninth Clinton’s Josh Lueke came on looKing for his second save of the season. Kingery walked to lead off the inning and Justin Roberson was hit by a pitch.

Domnit Bolivar squibbed one back to Lueke to move the runners to second and third. Lueke got the second out of the inning by sitting down Matthew Arburr.

With two strikes Carpenter’s hit was just out of the reach of Beltre, scoring both Kingery and Roberson.

Samuel sat the LumberKings down in order in the ninth for the victory

“We had one we could’ve stole,” Micucci said. “We scratched out five runs. We ran the bases well and hit the ball hard.”

LumberKing starter Evan Reed made a spot start for the Double-A Frisco RoughRiders and went five shutout innings to get the victory. Former Kernels closer Warner Madriguel picked up the save in that game.

        

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