Clinton Lumberkings at Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
April 9th, 2004
| Clinton |
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2 |
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3 |
6 |
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| Wisconsin |
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8 |
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E-Jones, LOB CLI-3, WIS-4, 2B-Bubela, Richardson, Colton, Jones, Balentien 2, HR-Kinsler (Heaston), CS-Bubela, Senreiso, SACF-Senrieso
PB-Collins
HP-Bob Davidson, BS-Chris Bakke
T-3:01, A-1,313
Clinton Herald
For the second night in a row, the Clinton Lumberkings came back to win.
Ian Kinsler beltred a two run homer in the eighth inning to give Clinton the lead for good in a 3-2 Midwest League victory over Wisconsin Friday night.
The win, Clinton's second in two tries during the young season, came after Wisconsin had opened the scoring in the second inning when Sam Bradford drove in a run on a fielder's choice.
Juan Senrieso's sacrifice fly to right field in the top of the fourth inning tied the game for Clinton.
There was no more scoring until the top of the eighth. A one out single by Casey Benjamin off Brandon Perry set the stage for Kinsler.
Bryan Heaston relieved Perry and Kinsler sent the first delievery off the new hurler over the left field wall to make it 3-2.
The Timber Rattlers rallied for a run in the bottom of the eighth on an RBI single by Wladimir Balentien.
But relief pitcher Gerald Smiley induced an inning ending double play to end the threat and followed with a game ending double play in the ninth.
Besides Kinsler, Dane Bubela sparked the offense with a pair of hits, including a double.
John Danks (1-0), the Rangers top draft pick last year, picked up the win. he worked 2.1 innings of relief, getting five strikeouts in the process.
Smiley pitched the last 1.2 innings for his first save.
Perry (0-1) was tagged with the loss.
The teams finish up their three game set with a 1:05 game today.
Appleton Post-Crescent
by Brett Christophersen
When Steve Roadcap is your manager, you better be willing to do the little things to win a ball game.
Those were in full display Friday night, despite the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers' 3-2 loss to the Clinton LumberKings at Fox Cities Stadium.
Whether it was coming up with balls in the dirt, gunning down runners trying to steal or racing hard down the line, the Timber Rattlers gave themselves every opportunity to win the game.
"One thing (Roadcap) likes is that you play hard at all times." said Rattlers first baseman Jeremy Dutton, who showed some of that mentality when he scooped up a low throw in the dirt during the third inning with a runner on second.
"Running out all the balls that you hit, playing hard and playing smart at the same time, mentally knowing where you're supposed to be at all times, and having fun while your doing it."
By listening to Dutton, it's clear the players ar eon the same page with their manager when it comes to giving extra effort.
"Those are expectations", said Roadcap, "If you don't lay expectations on people, they're not going to do things like that."
Rattlers catcher Chris Collins may have exceeded expectations when he came up with a pair of nice defensive plays in the sixth, throwing out Dane Bubela and Juan Senreiso on back to back steal attempts. Both of his throws were right on the mark.
"Those are huge plays, and that's what Chris is capable of doing." Roadcap said. "He was orginally a third baseman, so he's got a good arm, and he's got pretty good feet."
Collins said playing hard until the final out is something that Roadcap ingrained early on. "He's the kind of guy where you don't let up and keep on playing hard through the whole nine innings." he said. "You never show a team when you're down. That started at spring training. He made us play hard. He made us do everything hard to 100 percent effort."
Wisconsin showed some good hustle at the plate as well. Right fielder Chris Colton turned what looked to be an easy out into a double when he sprinted towards first on a shallow pop fly to left. As the Clinton first baseman, second baseman and right fielder converged to make the play however, each stopped and watch the ball drop to the turf.
By that time, Colton was digging hard towards second and putting himself in position to score on a base hit. "He always preaches the hustle." Colton said of Roadcap. "Everything we do, we hustle, I think it's rubbed off on the team, and I think it's going to help us get better. I really appreciate him doing that because it just makes us want to hustle and just go out there and the best job we can."
The Game
Wisconsin center fielder Wladimir Balentien went three for four with a pair of doubles and a RBI in the Timber Rattlers' 3-2 loss to the Clinton Lumberking Friday night at Fox Cities Stadium.
Clinton broke a 1-1 tie in the eighth inning when shortsop Ian Kinsler his a two run homer run over the left field wall on the first pitch he saw from Timber Rattlers reliever Bryan Heaston.
The Timber Rattlers got their other run when Jeremy Dutton crossed the plate on a fielder's choice in the secon inning. Wisconsin starter Brandon Moorhead struck out five in five innings.
Notes
Up and Throwing: Ryan Feierabend (0-0, 0.00 era) is scheduled to start for Wisconsin again Clinton's Matt Farnum (0-0, 0.00 era) today at 1:05 pm at Fox Cities stadium.
They're ok:Balentien appeared to have injured his hamstring when he doubled in the bottom of the fourth inning. After being examined by the team trainer Balentin stayed in and played the rest of the game. Wisconsin shortstop Adam Jones also got nicked up during a sixth inning play when he tagged sliding Juan Senreiso at second base. However Jones trotted off the field and finished the game.
Good Stuff:Clinton hurler John Danks who was drafted in the first round (ninth overall) in the June 2003 draft by the Texas Rangers, earned his first win of the season.