Larsen’s doubles & Lead-off success; Game Notes
Today’s Preview: The Clinton LumberKings (A, Mariners) meet the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (A, Brewers) for the second time this season with the third game of a four-game series. In the two teams’ first meeting this year, they split a four-game series at Ashford University Field. The LumberKings trail the all-time series, dating back to 1963, 307 to 365. Since Clinton has been affiliated with the Seattle Mariners (2009) they trail the head-to-head matchups 70 games to 73.
LumberKings Starter: Nick Wells, 22, makes his fourth start of the season for the LumberKings. The lefty is in his third season in Clinton and was the Opening Day starter for the LumberKings. This will be Wells second start of the season against the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers. His start against Wisconsin was the worst of the young season for Wells. The Virginia native struggled with his control, walking four batters, and allowing five hits. The walks accounted for a high pitch count that forced him from the game after just 4.1 innings of work. The LumberKings went on to lose 6–4 in the series finale at Ashford University Field. Wells rebounded in his most recent start to beat the Beloit Snappers. He worked five innings allowing two runs on a season high six hits but walked none for the first time on the year and struck out two. Wells came into the Seattle Mariners organization via a trade with the Toronto Blue Jays in which the Mariners traded RHP Mark Lowe to Toronto for LHP Rob Rasmussen, LHP Jacob Brentz and Wells on July 31, 2015
Timber Rattlers Starter: Dylan File, 21, makes his forth start of the season for the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers. The righty made his season debut against the LumberKings at Ashford University Field and was backed by 10 runs of offense to pick up his first and only win of the season. File held Clinton to just one run on five hits while walking one and striking out five. Since his start in Clinton File has struggled mightily with the home run ball. In two starts against the Peoria Chiefs he allowed five home runs, the most allowed by a pitcher in the Midwest League. His last time out File took the loss against the Peoria Chiefs, allowing six runs, five earned, on seven hits while walking none and striking out four. The righty spent his 2017 season in the Pioneer League with the Helena Brewers after being drafted by Milwaukee in the 21st round out Dixie State in the 2017 MLB Draft. He made 12 appearances for the Helena including seven starts, posting a 1–2 record with a 4.02 ERA over 47 innings pitched.
About Last Night: The Clinton LumberKings saw their seven-game winning streak come to end with a 3–1 loss to the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers on Tuesday night at Neuroscience Group Field. The LumberKings (11–4) were held to a Jack Larsen RBI double as their lone run of the night. Ryne Inman started for the LumberKings and was given the loss for his time out, a five-inning outing in which he allowed three runs, all earned, on four hits, while striking out five, and walking one. Wisconsin (4–14) started the scoring with two runs in the bottom of the second inning. Inman (1–1) allowed back-to-back-to-back hits with two out in the inning that chassed home the Timber Rattlers first two runs of the game. Michael Petersen worked the final three innings for Wisconsin to earn his first save of the season. Petersen preserved the 3–1 win for Wisconsin to ended their 10-game losing streak.
Larsen Doubles: Jack Larsen has been putting on a clinic with doubles in the series thus far with the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers. In game one he drove home three runs with a double off the wall in center and in Tuesday night’s loss Larsen became the first LumberKing in 2018 to collect two doubles in a game. His second double of the night chased home Ariel Sandoval for Clinton’s only run of the game, giving Larsen his 11th RBI of the season, the most on the team.
Leadoff Success: One problem the Clinton LumberKings did not have in Tuesday night’s loss was getting the leadoff man aboard. Over their nine innings at the plate the LumberKings had the leadoff man aboard in six of the innings. Clinton failed to score the leadoff man in anyone of their six opportunities and outhit Wisconsin 9-to-6. The LumberKings as a team have enjoyed hitting to leadoff innings and are hitting .302 as a group in leadoff sitations.
Andrade Starts Anew: Greifer Andrade saw his nine-game hitting streak come to an end on Monday night in a 6–2 win. Andrade then went 2-for-4 with two singles on Tuesday night to begin a new streak. The Dominican native was joined by Jack Larsen as the only other LumberKing to collect multiple hits against Timber Rattlers pitching.
Home Run Breakdown: The Clinton LumberKings come into game three of the four game series with the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers as the Midwest League leader in home runs, with 14 as a team. The success with the long ball has nearly exclusively come against right-handed pitching. Only two of the 14 round trippers have come against left-handed pitching. Ariel Sandoval and Jack Larsen are the only LumberKings to homer off a lefty this year.
No Hits in Bunches: With leadoff success on Tuesday night the LumberKings failed ot follow up with hits latter in the inning. Despite tallying nine hits in the game the LumberKings did not have two hits or more in any inning. Each inning the LumberKing collected exactly one. The top of the sixth on Tuesday night was the only frame for Clinton where the LumberKings had two base runners reach in the same inning.
This date in baseball history: On this date in 1976, at Dodger Stadium during the fourth inning, Rick Monday becomes a national hero when he takes away an American flag about to be set on fire by the two trespassers (a father and son) in the outfield. The Cubs’ 30 year-old fly chaser, who served six years in the Marine Reserves, will be presented the flag a month later in a pregame ceremony at Wrigley Field by L.A. executive Al Campanis as a gesture of patriotic thanks.
Broadcast Information: Erik Oas returns for his second season as the “voice” of LumberKings baseball. All games will be broadcast live on 100.3 FM WCCI and online at LumberKings.com via the TuneIn Radio App.
