Published: August 15, 2008 11:56 pm      

L-Kings rally falls short

Clinton falls to Burlington after controversial play

CLINTON — The Clinton LumberKings came up short on another comeback attempt Thursday night as they took the loss 6-4 to the Burlington Bees in Midwest League action.

The LumberKings headed into the bottom of the ninth inning trailing 6-3.

With one out, Andres James reached first on a error after he struck out and got all the way to third. Engel Beltre singled with the next at bat for the L-Kings to score James and brought the tying run to the plate. Matt Lawson took a free pass to put runners on first and second.

After the Lawson walk, things got heated as Tim Smith was batting.

With a full count on him, Smith slapped what appeared to be a double down the left line, but home-plate umpire Keith Rogowski called it foul.

Clinton manager Mike Micucci went sprinting to home plate and actually bumped into Beltre rounding third to argue the call and was quickly ejected. Had the ball been called fair, it would have tied the game up at six.

After the Micucci ejection, Smith was called out on strikes. Smith argued and was ejected as well. After the ejection Smith threw his helmet to the ground and followed Micucci to the showers.

The LumberKings couldn’t get that clutch hit after the ejections as Mitch Moreland couldn’t provide the same magic as he did the night before and grounded out to second to end the game.

Despite the controversial ending, the game started well for the LumberKings as they took the early 2-0 lead in the first.

Lawson singled with one out to start things off and stole second during the Smith at bat. Smith then singled to left to score Lawson, Smith then was thrown out at second while trying to stretch his hit into a double. With the bases emptied Moreland crushed an 0-2 pitch to right field for his 14th bomb of the year. During the home run Bee’s right fielder Nick Van Stratten injured himself as he ran into the right field wall and was replaced by Jamar Walton.

The Bees came right back with a run in the second as Walton singled to right to score Jason Taylor making it a 2-1 game.

The very next frame, the Bees put a three spot on the board to take the lead.

With two outs, Johnny Giavotella singled up the middle. Mike Moustakas followed with a single to right putting runners on the corners. Taylor then walked to pack the bags. Clint Robinson delivered the big blow by doubling off the center field wall to clear the bases. Nick Francis popped out to end the inning.

The LumberKings cut the lead too one in the fifth.

Lawson singled to center and Smith singled to right putting runners on the corners.

The Bees made a pitching change and on the very first pitch Moreland flew out to left to score Lawson, making it 4-3.

In the seventh, Julio Santana came on to replace starter Michael Kirkman who went six solid innings and gave up four runs with five strike outs.

On Santana’s first pitch to David Lough, Lough crushed his 12th home run of the year to right to give the Bees 5-3 lead. Santana later would uncork a wild pitch to score Giavotella.

Then came the fireworks in the ninth in which the LumberKings came close and dropped the game.

The LumberKings now have a full 25 man roster as Tim Murphy who was the 89th overall pick by the Rangers in the 2008 draft joined the team.

Murphy is a left handed pitcher who was drafted out of UCLA. Murphy went 3-1 with Spokane and had an ERA of 3.03 while splitting time in the starters role and the bullpen. Murphy is expected to join the starting rotation for the LumberKings.

Tonight, the LumberKings will complete the three-game series with Burlington on Grady Sizemore bobblehead night. Game time is set for 7 p.m.





BEES 6, LUMBERKINGS 4

BURLINGTON CLINTON

ab r h bi ab r h bi

Lough cf 5 1 1 1 Beltre cf 5 0 1 1

Giavotella 2b 5 2 2 0 Lawson 2b 4 2 2 0

Moustaks 3b 5 1 1 0 Smith, T lf 5 0 2 1

Taylor 1b 3 2 1 0 Moreland 1b 4 1 1 2

Robinson dh 4 0 3 3 Greene 3b 3 0 1 0

Frncs lf-rf 4 0 0 0 Alfnzo, M dh 4 0 0 0

Van Strattn rf 0 0 0 0 Felix, J c 3 0 1 0

Walton lf 4 0 2 1 Murphy, K rf 4 0 0 0

Rivera ss 4 0 0 0 James, A ss 4 1 1 0

Billick c 4 0 1 0 Kirkman p 0 0 0 0

Cota, L p 0 0 0 0 Santana, J p 0 0 0 0

Fisher p 0 0 0 0 Ueno p 0 0 0 0



Totals 38 6 11 5 36 4 9 4





Burlington 013 000 200 —6

Clinton 200 010 001 —4



E—Moustakas, Rivera, Taylor, Felix, James. DP—Burlington 1. LOB—Burlington 7, Clinton 9. 2B—Robinson. HR—Lough, Moreland. SB—Taylor, Rivera, Lawson. SF—Moreland.

IP H R ER BB SO

Burlington

Cota, L 4 1/3 7 3 3 1 5

Fisher (W, 1-0) 4 2/3 2 1 0 1 5

Clinton

Kirkman (L, 3-3) 6 7 4 4 2 5

Santana, J 1 3 2 2 0 0

Ueno 2 1 0 0 0 1

HBP—Greene. WP—Santana, J 2. Time—2:58. Attendance—1,128.