Published: April 28, 2009 09:12 am      

Bats awaken; L’Kings end skid

CLINTON — After watching his team suffer a fourth consecutive defeat Sunday afternoon, Clinton manager Scott Steinmann cleared the clubhouse of all non-team members and met with his ballclub. He wouldn’t reveal what he said, but his message apparently got through to the players.

A team that had struggled to score runs in the previous four games, put a three-spot on the scoreboard in the first inning Monday night and didn’t stop there. The LumberKings hit three home runs, scored in double digits for the first time this season and beat Burlington 10-2 in the third game of a four-game series at Alliant Energy Field.

Nate Tenbrink and Travis Howell each went 3-for-4 for Clinton with two runs batted in as the LumberKings improved to 9-7.

Perhaps the team knew some extra offense might be needed because the LumberKings scratched scheduled starter Steven Hensley, who has yet to give up an earned run this season, and went with emergency starter Blake Nation. But, Nation did just fine, allowing three hits and two runs (one earned) in four innings. Bobby LaFromboise (1-1) replaced Nation and earned the win with his best outing of the season. He allowed just one hit over three innings.

Meanwhile, an offense that had produced just five runs in the past three games, had scored more than that before Nation exited. The LumberKings didn’t waste a moment getting going, either.

A one-out walk to Maximo Mendez by Bees left-handed starting pitcher Brent Fisher got things started in the bottom of the first inning. Scott Savastano singled Mendez to third base, and he took second on the throw. Tenbrink followed with a single to center field that scored both runners. Tenbrink scored on Howell’s two-out double — the first of three extra-base hits for the catcher — and Clinton led 3-0.

Before the game ended, Clinton fans got to see seven extra-base hits from the home team, including a two-run home run from Savastano in the fourth inning, a solo shot from Howell in the eighth and a two-run homer by Terry Serrano in the eighth.