Published: May 20, 2008 09:53 am      

Beloit snaps LumberKings

CLINTON — The Beloit Snappers snapped the LumberKings four game winning streak in heart-breaking fashion on Monday night, 6-5.

Jonathan Greene’s 12th error of the season lead to the game tying and winning run in the ninth for Beloit who came back from 5-2 deficit.

Beloit scored the first run of the game in the third inning. Greg Yersich led off the inning by cracking a double to right center and then moved to third on a Miguel Alfonzo fielding error. Yersich would then score when Ben Revere grounded out to second.

The LumberKings tied the game at 1-1 in the bottom frame. Alfonzo would lead off the inning with an infield single to the second baseman.

Engel Beltre moved Alfonzo to second on a fielders choice. Renny Osuna who went 2-for-3 with two RBI’s on the night, then singled to left putting runners at first and second. Tim Smith would walk to load the bases.

Greene singled on a line to left that would score Alfonzo and left the bases load.

Mitch Moreland would ground sharply to the first baseman who threw home to gun down Osuna at the plate. Cristian Santana struck out to end the inning.

In the fifth, Osuna would put the LumberKings on top with a lead-off homer to deep left field on an 0-1 count. It was Osuna’s third home run of the season.

In the very next inning, the L-Kings got right back to work.

Andres James singled to lead off the inning. Alfonzo collected his third hit of the game, with James hustling to third he beat Revere’s throw and Alfonzo ended up at second.

With the Beloit infield playing in, a Beltre one hopper to second wasn’t good enough for James to score. Beloit would bring in a new pitcher, Bradley Tippett, replacing Michael Tarsi.

Osuna drove one to deep center, but Revere made a spectacular play to rob Osuna of extra bases, but did collect an RBI on a sac fly. Smith was then intentionally walked.

Greene who ended up 3-for-4 and had two RBI’s on the night singled to left scoring Alfonzo giving the L-Kings 5-2 lead.

Beloit would score a run in the top of the seventh to cut the lead down to two.

Moreland would lead off the seventh with his four home run to right field taking back a three run lead.

Beloit would score again in the eighth making it 5-3 in favor of the L-Kings.

The wheel came off for the LumberKings in the ninth.

Chris Cates ground out to third for the first out of the inning. Garrett Olson would single to center to start the rally. Ozzie Lewis hit was deflected by LumberKing pitcher Hector Nelo that would leave runners on first and second.

Mark Dolenc came on and replaced Lewis at first.

Steven Singleton singled to right as Garrett would score and Olson to third on an Alfonzo field error his second of the night.

Mike Micucci brought in Adalberto Flores to replace Nelo.

Joe Benson then would walk to load the bases.

Daniel Lehmann would fly out to center, but with the strong arm of Beltre none of the runners advanced keeping the score at 5-4.

Yersich would ground to third as Greene couldn’t handle and scored the game tying and the go ahead run making it 6-5.

The LumberKings would come right back as Santana singled to center followed by a Jose Felix ground single to right putting the tying runner in scoring position.

James put down a bunt to the third base side, putting the winning run at second and the tying run at third.

Alfonzo then walked to load the bases. Beltre would go down swinging on three straight pitches for the second out.

Osuna stepped into the box looking to be the hero again, but would line out to short for the final out of the game.

Fabio Castillo made his first start of the season and went five solid innings giving up no earned runs and struck out three.

“He threw the ball well, we couldn’t of asked him to do anything more with the short pitch count he was on.” said Micucci.

The LumberKings had their opportunities as they left 15 men on base and only scored five runs.

“Every time you look at the situations and see one hit here could of broken the game open and sometimes you got to tip your cap, they made good pitches when they needed to and play good defense,” said Micucci.

Derrek Holland will take the bump for Game 2 of the series, tonight. Holland is 3-0 and has an ERA of 2.6.1 The last time Holland faced the Beloit was last Thursday when he allowed two runs in five innings. Game time is set for 7 p.m.