Game notes 8/23; Slater’s walks, Newsome with a 100, & A rally for free
Today’s Preview: The Clinton LumberKings (A, Mariners) meet the Burlington Bees (A, Angels) for the fourth time during the 2017 season. The LumberKings trail the all-time series 410–428, dating back to 1962, and trail against Burlington, 73–78, since the LumberKings became a Seattle Mariners affiliate in 2009. The LumberKings dropped two of three in Burlington in their first visit at Community Field this season. In two meetings this season, at Ashford University Field the LumberKings went 3–4 against the Bees. Clinton dropped three of four May 18 through May 21. In the second meeting in Clinton the LumberKings took two of three from the Bees July 4 through July 6.
LumberKings Starter: Steven Ridings, 23, makes his seventh appearance and start of the season for the Clinton LumberKings. The Maryland native, continued to throw the ball well during his last outing. He has now lasted five innings or more and allowed two runs or less in each of his last four starts. Ridings last faced the Peoria Chiefs and received a no decision for a 5.2 inning outing in which he allowed one unearned run on four hits while one and striking out six. Ridings has pitched at most levels in the Mariners Farm System this season beginning the year with the Double-A Arkansas Travelers, making just one bullpen appearance, high-A Modesto Nuts, one relief appearances, Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers, one relief appearance, Short-Season Everett Aquasox and then finally being assigned to Clinton on July 18. Ridings was selected by the Mariners in the 29th round of the 2016 MLB Draft and made just one professional appearance during 2016 earning the win while pitching for the Arizona League Mariners.
Bees Starter: Elvin Rodriguez, 19, makes his season debut for the Burlington Bees. The Dominican native, was promoted to the Burlington Bees on August 19 after going an impressive 5–1 with a 2.51 ERA in the Pioneer League with the Orem Owlz. The impressive first half in the Angels short-A affiliate earned him an all-star game selection and Rodriguez was selected be the starting pitcher for the Pioneer League, despite throwing a scoreless first inning the Northwest League would go on to win the game 5–4. The Angels signed him as an international free agent in 2015 and assigned to pitch in the Domincan Summer League (DSL) that season. Rodriguez spent two seasons in the DSL before making his state side debut on July 22 with the Arizona League Angels.
Last Time Out: Dimas Ojeda and Billy Cooke each singled home a pair of runs in a Clinton LumberKings 7–2 win over the Burlington Bees at Community Field on Tuesday night. Ljay Newsome earned his LumberKings (26–32, 57–68) leading eighth win of the season during his six innings of work. Burlington (25–33, 56–71) jumped on Newsome (8–8) early. In the top of the first inning, the Bees collected three straight hits to take a 2–0 lead. Jonah Todd singled to lead off but was caught stealing before Burlington’s Leonardo Rivas singled and Richard Fecteau launched a two-run home run to right. The runs proved to be it for the Bees as Newsome and Jeffeson Medina combined to shutout Burlington over the final eight innings. The LumberKings tied the score in the top of the fourth. With two out, Dimas Ojeda lined a single to center that scored Nick Zammarelli and Nick Thurman. In the top of the sixth, the second Clinton two-out rally of the game gave them their first lead of the night. Against Bees reliever Justin Kelly, Billy Cooke lined the second two out, two-run, single of the game up the middle for a 4–2 LumberKings lead.
3 times the walk: During a 7–2 win over the Burlington Bees the Clinton LumberKings worked seven walks but none walked more than Johnny Slater. The LumberKings DH was issued three free passes during the game, tying a LumberKings season high for walks worked in a single game, and was also a new professional career high for Slater. Unfortunately for Slater the night came without a hit and his season long eight-game hitting streak was snapped.
Getting on base: Nick Zammarelli extended his current on-base streak to 13 games with a single in the fourth inning of Tuesday night’s game. The 13-game stretch is the second longest of the season by Zammarelli and the longest current streak by a LumberKing.
Keeping it 100: Ljay Newsome earned his team leading eighth win of the season on Tuesday night with a six-inning outing against the Bees. After allowing a two-run homer to Richie Fecteau in the first inning he allowed no more runs. Newsome did issued his first walks in 22 innings, his only free pass of the night, but also struck out six. His fourth inning strikeout of Brennon Morgan was his 100th strikeout of the season another category in which Newsome leads the team.
Rally for free: In the seventh inning of Tuesday night’s win the LumberKinngs pulled away with a three-run rally. The frame was hardly one where the LumberKings hit the cover off the ball but rather benefited from a wild hair up the nose of Bees reliever Justin Kelly. In the inning, the LumberKings worked three walks, had a batter hit, and moved runners up on a wild pitch. The LumberKings tallied just two hits in the inning to score their three runs.
This date in baseball history: On this date in 1982, Gaylord Perry of the Mariners is ejected from the game for applying a foreign substance to the ball. Although the right hander has been suspected for years of loading up the baseball, it is the first time he has been caught by the umpires.
Broadcast Information: All games will be broadcast live on 100.3 FM WCCI and online at LumberKings.com via the TuneIn Radio App with Erik Oas, in his first season as the “Voice of the LumberKings.”
