Game notes 8/28; Zammarelli streak ends, Walk-off summaries, & Shutout wins

**COMPLETE GAME NOTES**

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 304–362, dating back to 1963, and trail against Wisconsin, 67–70, 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: Steven Ridings, 23, makes his eighth appearance and start of the season for the Clinton LumberKings. The Maryland native, is coming off his strongest start as a professional his last time out. He set a new professional career high for innings pitched, lasting 7.2 innings against the Burlington Bees and earning the win for not allowing a run on four hits while walking one and striking out seven. 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.

Timber Rattlers Starter: Thomas Jankins, 22, makes his 26 appearance and 23 start of the season for the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers. The Worchester Massachusetts native, took the loss his last time out for a five-inning outing against the Peoria Chiefs in Wisconsin. He allowed two runs, one earned, on five hits while walking one and striking out six. He was drafted out of Quinnipiac University, who play in the MAAC, in the 13th round of the 2016 MLB Draft. He was just the 16th player in school history, and highest drafted player, to be taken out of the small college in Hamden Connecticut. Played high school basketball and soccer in addition to baseball. Jankins turned in the longest start of the season against the LumberKings this season working 7.2 inning in Wisconsin on May 17 earning the win in a 2–1 pitcher’s duel. Jankins took the win in his last outing against the LumberKings, he threw four shutout innings of relief allowing three hits while two and striking out three.

Last Time Out: It took until the bottom of the ninth but the Clinton LumberKings tallied their first run of the game to drop the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers 1–0 on Sunday afternoon at Ashford University Field. Gareth Morgan, with his second walk-off hit of the year, drove home Jhombeyker Morales for the LumberKings (30–33, 61–69) deciding run. Ljay Newsome started for Clinton and threw the ball well over a seven-inning outing. Despite being given a no decision, he allowed no runs on three hits while walking none and striking out four. Wisconsin (28–35, 54–77) tallied just four hits during the game as Newsome and LumberKings reliever Jeffeson Medina combined for the shutout. Medina (6–0) entered in the eighth inning and after allowing runners to reach second and third with one man out settled down to strike out the next two batters and exit the jam. In the top of the ninth, Medina worked around a two out hit batter to record his sixth win of the season with the LumberKings. Clinton struggled at the plate against Timber Rattlers starter Carlos Herrera. The 19 year-old worked six shutout innings for Wisconsin, at one pint setting down 15 straight LumberKings, but was given a no decision for his time out.

Shutout winners: Sunday afternoon’s win was one dominated by pitching. Ljay Newsome and Jeffeson Medina combined to shutout the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers over their nine innings for the LumberKings fifth shutout win of the season and the third at home. The pitching feat also marked the first time this season that the LumberKings have had two shutouts in the same series.

Zamm streak snapped: Nick Zammarelli streaking of reaching base safely was snapped with an 0-for-4 day at the plate on Sunday. The streak had reached base safely in 17 games to set a new LumberKings season high. The last time Zammarelli had failed to reach base in a game was August 7th at home against the Peoria Chiefs.

An ugly stretch: Timber Rattlers starter Carlos Herrera owned the most dominate pitching stretch of the game on Sunday. From the first inning into the sixth inning the 19 year-old set down 16 straight LumberKings. Herrera’s six shutout innings of work resulted in a no decision.

Walk-off summary: Gareth Morgan was the walk-off hero for the Clinton LumberKings on Sunday afternoon with his game winning single to left field. Thr triumph was Morgan’s second walk-off hit of the season and the LumberKings ninth of the year. In 2016 Clinton had 10 walk-off wins.

This date in baseball history: On this date in 1971, in his first at-bat in the Little League World Series finale, Lloyd McClendon blasts a three-run homer, prompting the Chinese Taipei manager to order his pitchers to intentionally walk the 12 year-old for the rest of the game. The Gary, Indiana Little Leaguer, the future manager of the Pirates and Mariners, hits five home runs in five at bats, all on the first pitch, and is walked in his other five plate appearances in the three games he plays in the tournament.

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.”

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Clinton LumberKings

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Class-A Affiliate of the Seattle Mariners & Charter Member of the Midwest League

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