Published: May 14, 2008 11:03 am            

L-Kings fall to Snappers

BELOIT, Wis. — The Clinton LumberKings dropped a 7-5 decision to Beloit on Tuesday after giving up two runs to the Snappers on eighth inning balks after leading 5-4.

Despite the loss, the L-Kings still hold the best record in the Midwest League with a mark of 25-9 and a two-and-a-half game lead over second-place Kane County.

The teams went scoreless for the first four innings until Clinton dented the scoreboard first with two in the fifth.

The inning started with a single by Jose Felix, who advanced to second on a wild pitch by Beloit starter David Bromberg.

Matthew Lawson then singled and Felix attempted to score on the drive to left field, but was thrown out at the plate.

Both Lawson and Felix were injured on the play and were forced out of the lineup.

The next batter, Engel Beltre tripled to score pinch runner Andres James to give Clinton the 1-0 lead.

Renny Osuna then singled to plate Beltre for the 2-0 lead.

The LumberKings added another run in the next inning as a Mitchell Moreland double drove in Timothy Smith, who reached base after being hit by a pitch.

Clinton took a 3-0 lead into the bottom of the sixth inning, when starter Neftali Feliz made way for reliever Ryan Tatusko.

Tatusko surrendered the first run of game for Beloit as cut the lead to 3-1.

The Snappers scored three more in the seventh to take the 4-3 lead.

The LumberKings answered with two runs in the top of the eighth to retake the lead at 5-4.

The runs came on a Moreland two run home run, that scored Smith who reached first after being hit by a pitch.

The round trip shot to center by Moreland was his second on the season and the RBIs were his 14th and 15th.

Beloit retook the lead in the bottom of the eighth with three runs.

After scoring a run on a pair of hits and a walk the Snappers scored two runs after two wild pitches and two balks by Clinton reliever Adalberto Flores.

At the end of the inning Beloit held a 7-5 lead which would stand as the LumberKings went down in order in the top of the ninth.

Osuna led the Clinton offensive charge with a 3-of-5 performance at the plate with one RBI. Osuna is now batting .324 on the season. Moreland was 2-of-4 with three runs batted in.

        

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