Published: May 12, 2008 10:39 am            

L-Kings slug past Peoria

CLINTON — Wearing pink hats, socks and wrist bands to honor Mother’s Day and breast cancer research the Clinton LumberKings pounded out 13 hits and five home runs to crush the Peoria Chiefs 12-4.

In the first inning Ian Gac displayed his power by jacking his 13th home run of the season to deep left field giving the LumberKings an early 2-0 lead.

“We took some good swings today we were fortunate enough that the wind was blowing out I know two of the home runs would have probably been doubles,” Mike Micucci said.

The L-Kings would come back with more power in the second with Jose Felix leading off with a single to center.

Carlos Dominguez would hit his third double of the season to left moving Felix to third. Cristian Santana would then walk to load the bases.

Andres James would scream a liner right back to the pitcher who threw back to first just in time for a double play.

Miguel Alfonzo would replaced Engel Beltre after the first inning would get his second round tripper of the season to left giving the L-Kings 5-1 lead.

On the very next pitch to Osuna the L-Kings would extent their lead to 6-1 and for the second time this season hit back to back home runs. Osuna’s homer went to deep center.

In the third the LumberKings would score four more runs. Santana’s two-run homer to center field would score Dominguez giving the LumberKings an 8-1 advantage.

Andres James would single to left and would move to second on a pass ball. Alfonzo would walk giving the L-Kings first and second.

The Chiefs would bring in Todd Blackford to stop the bleeding. Osuna would reach on a fielding error by Marwin Gonzalez that would score James and send Alfonzo to third.

Tim Smith would then single to center that would score Alfonzo. After the last out of the inning the L-Kings would have a 10-1 lead.

The Chiefs would score once in the second, two in the sixth and one in the eight.

In the eight Ian Gac put a stamp on the game when he mashed his 14th home run of the season to left field on the 1-0 count. The L-Kings would push across one more run and gave the L-Kings 12-4 lead.

“Days like today you’re never comfortable with any lead we realized in the middle of the game they were making good adjustments, we feel fortunate to get out of there with a win,” Micucci said.

Blake Beavan would make his second home start of the season as he came off a rough outing in Kane County.

Beavan picked up his second win of the season going five innings and struck out five and gave up one earned run.

“My outing was a lot better then my last one,” Beavan said. “My velocity is a lot better today and I was working on some of my mechanics in the bullpen.”

The LumberKings head on the road for a seven game road trip. The next home game will be against the Beloit Snappers on May 19th for Peanut Free Night.

Saturday’s Game

Going into Saturday night’s game against Peoria Derek Holland had dominated the current crop of Peoria Chiefs.

Last season Holland went 2-0 with an ERA of 0.90 and 12 strikeouts against Boise (the Cubs’ short-season club).

It was an early pitchers’ duel until the LumberKings were able to push one run across in the third.

With one out Carlos Dominguez would double to left setting himself into scoring position. Matt Lawson would go down swinging for the second out.

Engel Beltre would deliver the two-out double that would score Dominguez and give the LumberKings a 1-0 advantage.

During the fifth Beltre would reach on a throwing error and then would steal second. Renny Osuna would double down the left field line that would score Beltre easily from second.

Osuna would move to third on a throwing error by left fielder Dylan Johnston. During Tim Smith’s at bat Osuna would be picked off by Chiefs catcher Marquez Smith which would be key. Smith would then double to right center and would of scored Osuna.

The Chiefs would get on the board in the seventh when Jovan Rosa lead off with a double to left. Johnston would make a productive out by grounding out to second moving Rosa to third. Mario Mercedes would collect on the RBI opportunity by grounding out to second.

With two outs in the ninth on a one and one count Johnston would make up for an earlier error by sending a home run to deep left to tie the game at two. Holland would then be taken out of the game coming up just shy a of a complete game.

“I threw one of my off-speed pitches. I didn’t think he was ready for that, but he was sitting on it,” Holland said.

In the 12th inning Mercedes singled to center with one out. Elvis Lara would reach base via a fielding error by Lawson and moving the go ahead run to second.

Marwin Gonzalez would single to left to score Mercedes and Lara. Gonzalez would move to second on a throwing error by the catcher Jose Felix.

The LumberKings made some noise in the bottom frame when Renny Osuna singled to left with one out.

Smith’s liner would have gone for extra bases but was snagged out of the air by second baseman Jose Made for the second out. Ian Gac would ground into a fielder’s choice to end the game 4-2.

        

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