Published: September 06, 2008 02:24 am            

LumberKings season comes to a close

CLINTON — The Clinton LumberKings 2008 season was put to an end on Friday as the Cedar Rapids swept the LumberKings in a quick best of three series losing Game 2 5-4.

Michael Main had an excellent outing as he went 5 2/3 innings with seven strikeouts with a no-decision.

In shades of Wednesday night, the LumberKings offense had an early opportunity. Engel Beltre led off the first by being hit by a pitch that got him on the inside elbow. Trevor Reckling had Beltre picked off but a throw from first baseman Gabe Jacobo hit Beltre in the foot to allow him to get to second. Matt Lawson put down a perfect bunt to move Beltre to third.

The Kernels struck first in the second. Julio Perez led off by being hit by a pitch. A ground single by Clay Fuller to right moved Perez all the way to third.

With the hit and run on, Jacobo grounded to Stoneburner at short, allowing Perez to score and move Fuller to second.

Game 1 hero Jeremy Moore struck out swinging for the second out of the frame. Chris Rosenbaum singled to left that scored Fuller from second and moved Rosenbaum to second on the throw. Michael Main got Jay Brossman to fly out to right for the third out.

The LumberKings left two men in scoring position in the second.

The LumberKing finally broke onto the score board for the first time in the series as Lawson with one out tripled to left center field. Mitch Moreland grounded out to second to bring home Lawson making it 2-1 Kernels. Justin Smoak lined a singled to center to keep the momentum going for the LumberKings. Tim Smith followed suit by singling to left making first and second. Jonathan Greene worked a 2-2 count before flying out to center to end the LumberKing threat.

The LumberKings finally took the lead in the fifth with Beltre leading off with a surprise bunt single down the first base side. Lawson worked a walk to give the LumberKings second and first. Moreland grounded into a 3-6 fielders choice putting runners on the corner. Smoak delivered a big blow by doubling to right center that scored Beltre. Smith followed with a line singled to left that scored Moreland and gave the LumberKings the 3-2 lead. Greene popped out and Santana struck out swinging to limit the damage.

In the sixth with two outs, Main had some trouble as manager Mike Micucci decided to play it safe and brought in Mark Hamburger, which proved to be the right move as Hamburger got Perez to line out for the third out.

The LumberKings extended their lead by two with Cedar Rapids manager Keith Johnson went to the pen and brought in Ysmael Carmona who struggled. Jose Felix lead off with a walk and Davis Stoneburner was hit by a pitch. Beltre bunted again this time for a sacrifice to move the runners up one. Lawson was also hit by a pitch to load the bases and the night was quickly over for Carmona. Tim Kiely was brought in to put out the fire. Moreland came within inches of breaking the game open as he fouled a pitch just foul of the right field line, instead Moreland grounded into a fielders choice that scored Felix. Smoak popped out to the third baseman to end the inning.

The eighth brought trouble as Joseph Ortiz came on to replace Hamburger Tyler Johnson pinched hit for Rosenbaum in which Johnson singled off Ortiz for an infield hit. An throwing error by Greene at third allowed Jay Brossman to reach and move Johnson to third. Johnson made another moved by bringing in Carlos Colmenares flew out to right that scored Johnson to bring the Kernels within one run.

Adalberto Flores came on in the ninth to close out the game to get the LumberKings to game the deciding game three. It was a nerve racking ninth with one out Fuller was hit by a pitch to take first. Fuller stole second to move the tying run a little closer to home for the Kernels. Jacobo struck out swinging but got to first on the wild pitch as Fuller moved to third. Moore flew out to center to tie up the game at four as Fuller scored. Alberto Rosario flew out to deep right but Beltre went all the way to the warning track and caught the ball as he was falling down to save the game for the LumberKings.

Jose Perez came on to try and help the Kernels to get to extra innings and he did with Smoak just missing a walk off home run by inches.

The game went into the tenth with the game being tied at four. Flores got two outs in the 10th however he did allow Colmenares to reach via the walk. Chris Dennis came on and quickly got rid of Hector Estrella by striking him out looking.

Neither team could score in the tenth as the game went to the 11th.

Clay Fuller broke the tie as he jacked a home run to right field to give the Kernels the one run advantage.

Stoneburner in the 11th with one out doubled off the center field wall just missing a home run by inches. Beltre went down swinging as the LumberKings were down to their last out. Lawson went down swinging to end the LumberKings season.

Next season will bring a new challenge to the city of Clinton with an expiring contract with the Texas Rangers as the affiliate and the City of Clinton hosting the 2009 Mid West League All-Star game. A lot could change in the coming months but be prepared for the 2009 season starting in April.

“Stony almost extended the extra innings. Every team that’s in our position will lose their final game with only one winner. We can say that our team fought hard everyday especially tonight, you can’t say enough about this team” said Micuuci

        

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