Published: May 05, 2009 08:58 am      

LumberKings hit the road after posting 12-2 win

CLINTON — With a 5 a.m. bus trip to Dayton, Ohio, awaiting them, the Clinton LumberKings didn’t have much time to enjoy their victory Monday night. But, at least the 12-2 win against Quad Cities sent them on the road on a two-game winning streak and in sole possession of second place in the Midwest Conference’s Western Division.

Clinton starter Aaron Pribanic (3-1) held Quad Cities hitless for four innings, and the River Bandits managed only two hits against him and the three relief pitchers who followed. Only a wild streak before Pribanic exited kept Clinon from recording a shutout.

Pribanic had it on cruise control, pitching with a 6-0 lead when things came apart a bit on him in the sixth inning. He issued consecutive walks to load the bases with two outs, then threw back-to-back wild pitches with Chris Swauger batting that allowed the two runs to score. Pribanic left after walking Swauger.

Chris Kirkland reloaded the bases by hitting Charles Cutler with a pitch, but he then struck out Roberto Espinoza to end the inning.

Once back at the plate, the LumberKings got those runs and more back by scoring four runs in the bottom of the sixth.

Clinton’s offensive exploits included a solo home run by Nate Tenbrink in the second inning that started the scoring, a two-run double by Travis Howell in the third and a two-run homer by Howell to cap the scoring in the seventh.