Published: July 19, 2008 01:00 am            

L-Kings lose rubber match to Wizards

Clinton loses early lead in 5-4 loss to Ft. Wayne

CLINTON — The Clinton LumberKings’ early lead over the Fort Wayne Wizards couldn’t stand up as they lost late 5-4 Friday night at Alliant Energy Field.

Michael Kirkman made his sixth start of the season for the LumberKings. Kirkman was 3-0 headed into Friday night’s action and received a no decision.

The LumberKing offense gave Kirkman a quick 1-0 lead in the first inning.

With one out, Andres James struck out, but reached on a wild pitch by Wizards starting pitcher Corey Kluber. Not only did James reach first but a wild throw by catcher, Ali Solis, allowed James to go all the way to third. Mitch Moreland grounded out to short to score James and extended his league leading RBI total to 65.

The lead was short lived though, as Felix Carrasco led off the top of the second with a blast over the center field wall to knot the game up at one. The round tripper was Carrasco’s 14th home run of the season.

The Wizards took a two-run lead in the fourth when Justin Baum led off with a double to left field.

Kirkman almost got out of the jam with a ground out and a fly out, but Andrew Parrino doubled to right to score Baum.

Solis made up for his error from the first inning when he singled home Parrino from second.

The LumberKings came right back to cut the lead to one in the bottom half of the inning.

Mitch Moreland connected on his 10th home run of the season with a blast to left center and added yet another run to his league-leading RBI total of 66. Moreland ended up going 2-4 with two RBI’s and one run scored.

Kirkman’s night ended after the seventh. He ended up with two strike outs and gave up three earned runs in the outing.

After a few innings, the LumberKings came back in the eighth to tie the game up at three.

The Wizards made a pitching change as they brought in Bryan Oland. Oland struggled in his outing by giving up the tying run and allowed one free pass.

Davis Stoneburner led off with a walk and then stole second while Engel Beltre was batting. Beltre singled to Lance Zawadzki at short to put runners at the corner.

Beltre eventually stole second during the James at bat for his 15th stole base of the season.

James grounded out to second. During the same play, Fort Wayne’s first baseman Carrasco caught Beltre at second and got the double play.

While Moreland was batting Oland threw a wild pitch that scored Stoneburner form third to tie the game up.

Keisuke Ueno came on for his second inning of relief in the ninth and couldn’t make an out.

Ueno walked the lead-off hitter, Carrasco.

Yefri Carvajal put down a sacrifice bunt that was fielded by Ueno, who threw far to the right side of the bag to put the runners on the corner.

Parrino doubled over the head of Alfonzo in right to score both Carrasco and Carvajal to give the Wizards the lead. The pitching change was made as Chris Dennis came on in relief to put out the fire. Dennis would get the next three outs without allowing anymore runs.

Dennis allowed no hits and did strike out one.

The LumberKings failed to score in the bottom half as they took the 5-4 loss.

Tonight, Ryan Tatusko will make the start for the L-Kings.

Tatusko struggled early on in the season, but as of late is throwing well. He is 2-6 with an ERA of 4.34. In his last start, Tatusko went six innings while striking out four Quad Cities River Bandits. Tatusko has been flipping back and fourth between the bullpen and a starting role. His record is 1-3 as a starter with an ERA of 2.76.

        

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