July 28, 2008 10:53 am
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LANSING, Mich. — The Clinton LumberKings took a pair of wins over the Lansing Lugnuts over the weekend, winning 5-4 on Saturday and 6-3 on Sunday.
The LumberKings have now won four of their last five games and are tied for fourth place in the Midwest League’s Western Division with an 18-18 record. Clinton is now three games behind division-leading Peoria and part of a log jam at the top of the standings as three-and-a-half games separate the top six teams.
On Saturday, the Lugnuts jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning as LumberKing starter Michael Main gave up two hits and a walk.
Justin Jackson and Raul Barron each got hits to open the inning for Lansing, then scored on an error by Clinton first baseman Mitchell Moreland.
Main settled in after the rocky start and allowed just two more hits in his next four innings of work. He was replaced in the sixth inning by Chris Dennis.
The LumberKings got on the board in the fourth inning.
The inning started with an Engel Beltre double to right field, who then moved to third on a tag up on a pop out to center by Matthew Lawson.
Beltre scored on a Moreland ground out to second base.
Jonathan Greene and Timothy Smith each reached base with two outs, but a Davis Stoneburner strikeout put and end to the Clinton scoring in the fourth.
The LumberKings tied the score in the sixth on a Greene solo home run to left. The shot was Greene’s 17th of the season.
Lansing edged back out in front in the seventh inning as Johemyn Chavez scored on a Barron double.
Clinton put together a big eighth inning as they scored three runs to take the lead back 5-3.
Lansing’s Tim Collins came in to replace reliever Joe Wice and once again it was Greene providing the scoring punch for Clinton.
Engel Beltre walked then stole second to give the LumberKings a runner in scoring position. The swiped base was Beltre’s 18th of the season.
Moreland also walked to give Clinton runners at first and second with Greene coming to bat.
Greene lifted his 18th round-tripper over the left field fence, scoring three and giving Clinton a 5-3 lead.
The Lugnuts tried to rally in the ninth, but Adalberto Flores put the finishing touches on his ninth save of the year to give Clinton the win.
Greene finished with three hits and four RBIs on the night.
In Sunday’s game, the LumberKings were out hit 12-9, but managed to take a 6-3 win as starter Jorge Quintero collected his fifth win of the season.
Clinton wasted no time getting on the scoreboard jumping out to a 2-0 lead after one inning.
The inning started with Beltre singling to center field, then stealing second for his 19th stolen base of the year.
Beltre moved to third on a Matthew Lawson groundout to short.
Greene tallied his fifth RBI in two days with a single to right to score Beltre. Greene now has 69 RBIs in 2008.
Greene then scored on a Cristian Santana double to right.
The LumberKings added another run in the second on a Beltre RBI groundout to short. The sacrifice scored Miguel Alfonzo.
Lansing tallied one run in both the second and third innings to cut the Clinton lead to 3-2.
Neither team would score again until the ninth when the LumberKings pushed three across to up their lead to 6-2.
Santana doubled, then reached third on a passed ball.
With two outs in the inning, Alfonzo singled to score Santana.
Davis Stoneburner hit his second home run of the season to plate Alfonzo and himself to give Clinton some breathing room.
Joseph Ortiz came on in the bottom half of the inning and nailed down the win after allowing a run on two hits.
Beltre, Lawson and Santana each recorded two hits for the winners.
The LumberKings will look to complete the sweep of the Lugnuts today as the teams will do battle at 11:05 a.m.
Clinton will return home Tuesday to start a three-game set with South Bend. First pitch for each game is set for 7 p.m.
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