Game notes 8/27; Arnerich ejection, Day games, & Zamm keeps rolling
Today’s Preview: The Clinton LumberKings (A, Mariners) meet the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (A, Brewers) for the fifth and final time during the 2017 season. The LumberKings trail the all-time series 303–362, dating back to 1963, and trail against Wisconsin, 66–70, since the LumberKings became a Seattle Mariners affiliate in 2009. The LumberKings took two of three during the team’s first two meetings of the season including a win against current big leaguer Matt Garza during a rehab start. In a four-game series in Clinton May 26–29 the LumberKings split the series two games apiece. The teams last met in Wisconsin August 2–4 where the LumberKings took two of three wining the series finale in 11 innings 8–7.
LumberKings Starter: Ljae Newsome, 20, makes his 24 appearance and start of the season for the Clinton LumberKings. The Maryland native, earned the win his last time out as he turned in his second straight quality start. Over six innings of work he allowed two runs on five hits while walking one and striking out six. The win was the first of a three-game sweep in Burlington against the Bees.
A lack of walks and base runners have been a theme for Newsome this season. He enters tonight’s game as the second stingiest player in the Midwest League when it comes to issuing walks. Newsome ranks just behind Clark Beeker of Cedar Rapids, now promoted, with a ratio of 1.22 walks issued per nine innings work. He also ranks fourth in the league in base runners allowed over nine innings, 10.48. Newsome was selected by the Seattle Mariners 26th round of the 2016 MLB Draft out of Chopticon high school where he lead his school a Maryland 3A state championship.
Timber Rattlers Starter: Carlos Herrera, 19, makes his eighth appearance and fourth start of the season for the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers. The Dominican native, took the loss his last time out for a brief three inning outing against the Quad Cities River Bandits in Wisconsin. He allowed five runs on six hits while walking one and striking out none. The Timber Rattler have been cautious with Herrera as of late, the right-hander has not made it through the fourth inning in each of his three appearances. Herrera began the season with the Helena Brewers of the Pioneer League and was then promoted to the Timber Rattlers on July 9th. Since pitching in Wisconsin, he has had to overcome a stint on the disabled list that lasted from August 3 through August 14. In the his time working in August thus far he is 0–2 with a 12.15 ERA in 6.2 innings of work.
Last Time Out: The second longest winning streak of the season for the Clinton LumberKings, five games, was snapped in a 3–1 loss to the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers on Saturday night at Ashford University Field. The LumberKings (29–33, 60–69) were held to one run, coming from an infield fly, in a loss that drops them to three games back in the wild card race. Danny Garcia started for Clinton and limited the Timber Rattlers (28–34, 54–76) to two runs over his five innings of work. Garcia (7–12) allowed three walks while striking out seven and was hung with the loss, his team-leading 12th of the year. Wisconsin scored all their runs off Garcia in the top of the third inning. Mario Feliciano doubled home two runs with two out in the inning for what proved to be the decisive blow of the night. The LumberKings scored their only run of the game in the bottom of the fifth inning to pull to within one run. Victor Diaz began the inning for Wisconsin. After retiring the first batter of the inning, he allowed the bases to be loaded against him. Daniel Brown followed out of the bullpen and faced just one batter in the inning, Joe Rizzo. Rizzo lifted a ball just fair down the left field line that was ruled to be an infield fly, making Rizzo an automatic out. Ryan Aguilar misplayed the fly ball as it kicked off his glove and rolled into foul territory. Louis Boyd then scored from third on the error but the inning ended when Johnny Slater was out at the plate attempting to score when the throw to the plate bounced away from Timber Rattler catcher Feliciano.
Hit the showers: Tony Arnerich is the LumberKings third manager this season and took over as manager on August 10th in Beloit. Saturday night though marked his first ejection as a LumberKing. The skipper was arguing a play at the plate in which Demi Orimoloye scored and was then tossed by home plate umpire Dane Ponczak. David Macias was not tossed from any of his games as manager.
Zamm reaches: Nick Zammarelli has been one of the most consistent hitters for the LumberKings in the second half and is hitting .308 since the All-Star break. A reason for the success has been his current streak of reaching base. With two hits in Saturday night’s lose Zammarelli extended his streak of reaching base safely to 17 games a new LumberKings season high. Zammarelli’s streak began on August 8th at home against the Peoria Chiefs.
In the light of day: Sunday marks the final day home of the season for the LumberKings. Thus far during matinee action at Ashford University Field the LumberKings are 5–6 and 15–10 during day games overall this season.
This date in baseball history: On this date in 1951, a prolonged delay occurs at Olean’s (NY) Bradner Stadium when a skunk refuses to leave the infield during a Pennsylvania-Ontario-New York League game between Batavia and the hometown Oilers. The minor leaguers try to shoo the crepuscular (most active at dawn and dusk) mammal away, but results in the players running off the field with the uninvited guest staying put for an hour before moving on, allowing the contest to resume, albeit with a lot less fewer fans in the stands.
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.”
