Clinton Lumberkings at Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
April 10th, 2004
| Clinton |
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1 |
4 |
0 |
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0 |
0 |
0 |
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2 |
3 |
0 |
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10 |
12 |
4 |
| Wisconsin |
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1 |
0 |
0 |
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0 |
0 |
2 |
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0 |
0 |
0 |
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3 |
5 |
1 |
E-Kinsler, Frostad 2, Swope, Cox, LOB CLI-11, WIS-8, 2B-Bubela, Kreuzer 2, Swope, Jones, Ruchti, 3B-Womack, SB-Kinsler, Bubela, CS-Grayson
Feieraband faced 5 batters in 2nd
HBP-Richardson (Hrynio), WP-Feieraband, PB-Clark, Ruchti
HP-Chris Bakke, BS-Bob Davidson
T-3:05, A-1,730
Clinton Herald
The Clinton Lumberkings made it three straigh wins to start the season.
Clinton completed a three game road sweep of the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers Saturday, rolling to a 10-3 Midwest League baseball win. Dane Bubela, Emerson Frostad and Josh Kreuzer each had a pair of RBIs for the L-Kings.
For the first time in the series, Clinton got off to the early lead. Bubela doubled, moved to third on a passed ball and scored on a wild pitch in the first inning.
The Rattlers tied the game in the bottom of the inning, Josh Womack tripled to start the inning. Adam Jones' RBI ground ball to second was booted for an error.
The L-Kings scored four times in the second. Rattler starter Ryan Feieraband gave up a single and walked a pair to load the bases with nobody out. Ian Kinsler singled in the first run of the inning. Bubela followed with a two run single, Kinsler stole home on the back end of a double steal.
The game settled down until the sixth, when the Rattlers scored twice to make it 5-3. Wladimir Balentien knocked in a run with a single and later scored on a passed ball. But Clinton got both of those runs back with a two run single by Frostad in the seventh.
The L-Kings put the game away with three more runs in the eighth. Kevin Richardson knocked in a run when he was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. Kreuzer drove in the last two with a double.
The league had an off day Sunday. Clinton begins another road series today with the first of four games at Cedar Rapids. Game time is 6:30 pm. Left hander Tim Cunningham is the L-Kings scheduled starter.
Appleton Post Cresent
by Brett Christopherson
If there's a panic button in the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers' clubhouse, no one seems all that eager to push it.
And that's probably the best attitude to take considering there are still 137 games left to play.
The Clinton Lumberkings collected 12 hits and used a four run second inning to complete a three game sweep of the Rattlers with a 10-3 win Saturday at Fox Cities Stadium.
But the feeling among the Timber Rattlers' players and coaches afterward was that streaks, good or bad, are a part of baseball and that the tide will turn for the better soon enough.
"The locker room is still relaxes," said Wisconsin centerfield Josh Womack, "After the game, everyone's bummed. We know we can do better. But everybody's still calm."
The challenge facing manager Steve Roadcap is how to make sure the players remain positive. With a roster full of players trying to get acclimated with their first full season of professional baseball, opening the year on a three game losing skid could wreak havoc on the team's overall confidence.
But Roadcap isn't worried about that and instead said the series with the Lumberkings can turn out to be a very useful learing tool. "You point out as much of the positive things that you can see, yet still point out the negative stuff." Roadcap said, "As a staff, we just have to keep being positive and being persistent with certain things that we want done."
Rattlers pitcher Ryan Feierabend struggled in his first start of the season. Despit lasting just one plus innings and giving up five earned runs. Wisconsin pitching coach Brad Holman said the 18 year old left hander has too much talent and potential to let one rough outing get to him. "Im not worried about it at all, "Holman said. "He's got higher expectations of himself than even I have of him. He'll rebound."
Sneak Peak:On hand during the three game series against the Lumberkings was Greg Hunter, director of minor league operations for the Mariners, the Timber Rattelrs major league parent club.
Considering that the Rattlers are expected to field a talented club this season. Hunter was excited to see how this year's team looks up close and personel. "We feel pretty good about everything on paper right now." Hunter said. "A lot of these kids are young, and it's going to be their first full season of baseball. We've definitely got some good young prospects here that have a very high top end." Hunter said making a stop in the Fox Cities is something he always looks forward to. "I've been lucky enough to come to Appleton for the last five openers, As a major league club we like represent ourselves at the affiliates' opening days and events, especially in a place like this where there is suck strong support from the community."
Good Hands:Roadcap may be retired as a player, but it's clear he still has some decent fielding skills. Roadcap, who doubles as the Timber Rattlers third base coach when the team is at the plate, snared a pair of sharply hit foul balls during Wisconsin's 3-2 loss against Clinton, Friday night.
The Fox Cities Stadium faithful gave the 43 year old Roadcap a warm appause on each of the plays he made. "I usually don't grab foul ball for the embarrassment." Roadcap said with a laugh.
Roadcap was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the 18th round in 1982. He made it to the Triple A level of the Cubs farm system in 1985 and 1986.
The Game:The Clinton Lumberkings completed a three game series against the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers with a 10-3 victory Saturday at Fox Cities Staduim. Four Clinton players had multi hit games, with shortstop Ian Kinsler leading the way with three hits.
Lumberkings designated hitter Josh Kreuzer ripped a pair of doubles and drove in two. Rattlers starter Ryan Feierabend lasted just on plus innings before giving way to the bullpen. Reliever Brian Stitt pitched well for the Rattlers, allowing no runs and only one hit in four innings.
Left fielder Wladimir Balentien and first baseman Jeremy Dutton each singled and are the only Timber Rattlers with hits in each of the first three games.
Notes:Whats Next:Wisconsin has off today before heading to Burlington, Iowa for a four game series against the Bees begining Monday at 7pm. Nibaldo Acosta (0-1, 0.00 era) is scheduled to start for the Rattlers against Burlington's Dusty Hughes (0-0, 0.00 era)
Road Sweet Road: Dating back to last season, Clinton has won eight straight games at Fox Cities stadium.
Numbers Don't lie: The three game series against Clinton drew 4,705 fans to Fox Cities stadium, and average of 1,568 per game.