Published: July 18, 2008 11:22 am            

LumberKings fall 7-0 to Wizards

Clinton now five games behind league-leading Peoria

CLINTON — Blake Beavan, in his 15th start of the season, dropped another close decision while only giving up one run in six innings of work. Beavan got no run support as the Clinton LumberKings (13-14) dropped the game 7-0 to Fort Wayne on Thursday. Beavan struck out four but also had control issues and walked four as well.

Wynn Pelzer picked up his eighth win of the season going six innings and striking out four L-Kings

Luis Martinez, with one out, walked on four straight balls. Brad Chalk doubled off the right field wall setting up second and third. Robert Perry grounded right back to Beavan and Martinez was forced off third as Chalk tried to advance while Beavan ran at Martinez to commit to home and threw to Cristian Santana at home for the second out. Lance Zawadzki made the third out by a diving Matt Lawson who robbed Zawadzki of a hit.

The Wizards broke through in the fourth.

Beavan struggled with his control as he walked Felix Carrasco with one out.

Yefri Carvajal singled to left to put a runner at first and second. Parrino was walked as well to load the bases.

Contreras grounded out to first to score Carrasco to give the Wizards the 1-0 lead. Beavan got Martinez to fly out to center to end the threat of a big inning.

The L-Kings came right back in the bottom half as with one out, Tim Smith singled to the opposite field.

Santana then doubled to left center putting the tying run at third.

Miguel Alfonzo struck out for the second out as did Carlos Dominguez for the second time on the night and left his third man in scoring position on base.

In the sixth inning, Jonathan Greene inched closer to the hit by pitch record as Wynn Pelzer nailed Greene in the back for Greene’s 27th time this season. Greene is only five away from the League record of 32 set by in 1996 by Mike Kinkade of the Beloit Snappers.

The Wizards broke the game open late in the eighth with a six spot.

Adalberto Flores came in to replace Joseph Oritz and Carrasco lead off with a ground single to right.

Carvajal popped out to Stoneburner at short for the first out. Parrino and Contreras both walked to load up the bases.

Marinez went down swinging for the second out, but lead-off man Chalk tripled to right to clear the bases.

Manager Mike Micucci made the move to bring in Julio Santana.

With the first pitch to Perry, Santana got the ground ball he wanted but a throwing error allowed the runner to reach.

The Wizards brought in a pinch hitter, Luis Durango, and the move paid off as he tripled to center to score Perry. Santana uncorked a wild pitch that score Durango for the last run of the inning. After the brutal inning the Wizards had a 7-0 lead.

The LumberKings had the bases loaded in the bottom half, but Greene grounded into the inning double play to end any threat.

The bullpen had a rough night as well as they combined for six runs, four of them earned, and walked two and gave up six hits as well.

Tonight, Michael Kirkman makes his sixth start of the season in a LumberKing uniform. Kirkman is 3-0 with an ERA of 1.88

Game time is 7 p.m. at Alliant Energy Field.

        

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