Saturday
26Apr2008
Clinton Lumberkings Overpower Lansing Lugnuts 13-2 - Midwest League
Saturday, April 26, 2008 at 01:36PM
MLN Newswire - www.mlntherawfeed.com - Clinton, IA – In a battle that showcased the league’s top two offensive teams, it was Ian Gac and the Clinton LumberKings that put on the show, scoring early and often in a 13-2 blowout of the Lansing Lugnuts.
Gac went a perfect 4-for-4 with three singles and a two-run home run, his league-leading ninth blast of the year. The big offensive night pushed him past Lansing’s Manny Rodriguez for the league’s top spot in hitting, although he had a solid 2-for-4 night.
ADVERTISEMENT The Kings blasted Lugnuts’ starter Trystan Magnuson for three runs in the first inning. Gac started the damage with two outs, singling up the middle. Tim Smith then doubled to center, and Mitch Moreland skied an opposite-field double to left, scoring two runs. A wild pitch by Magnuson scored Moreland later in the inning as Clinton stormed out to a 3-0 lead.
Gac helped the cause again in the second inning, again singling with two outs. This time, Matt Lawson came around to score after reaching on a bunt single earlier in the inning. Smith added to the lead with a triple over the head of center-fielder Darin Mastroianni, scoring both Gac and Renny Osuna.
Clinton piled on the 6-0 lead as the Lugnuts turned to left-hander Chi-Hung Cheng. Cristian Santana greeted Cheng rudely, crushing a first-pitch fastball over the scoreboard in left-center with one out in the third. Santana’s third clout of the year made it a 7-0 lead.
Gac capped his night in the fourth inning, driving Cheng’s 3-1 pitch out to deep left-center for his ninth home run. His second home run in as many games made it a 9-0 LumberKings’ lead.
Smith doubled home two more runs as the Kings hung another three- spot on the scoreboard in the fifth, and the Kings led 13-0 after six innings.
The offense was excessive behind the shut-down pitching by right- hander Kennil Gomez. Gomez (W, 3-0) extended his scoreless-streak to 16.0 innings, allowing just four hits and one walk over 6.0 innings. He struck out four and lowered his ERA to a team-best 1.57, winning his third-consecutive decision.
Julio Santana was touched up for a pair of runs late as the Lugnuts cracked the scoreboard. Moises Sierra singled home Adam Calderone in the seventh, and Rodriguez drove in his 21st RBI with a single in the eighth.
Santana (S, 1) worked three innings, and thus was credited with the save. He walked one and struck out three.
Gac’s four hits was the most by a LumberKing this year. Smith finished at 3-for-5 with four RBI, and Jose Felix added two RBI with a 1-for-4 night. Lawson also had three hits, going 3-for-5.
Gac went a perfect 4-for-4 with three singles and a two-run home run, his league-leading ninth blast of the year. The big offensive night pushed him past Lansing’s Manny Rodriguez for the league’s top spot in hitting, although he had a solid 2-for-4 night.
ADVERTISEMENT The Kings blasted Lugnuts’ starter Trystan Magnuson for three runs in the first inning. Gac started the damage with two outs, singling up the middle. Tim Smith then doubled to center, and Mitch Moreland skied an opposite-field double to left, scoring two runs. A wild pitch by Magnuson scored Moreland later in the inning as Clinton stormed out to a 3-0 lead.
Gac helped the cause again in the second inning, again singling with two outs. This time, Matt Lawson came around to score after reaching on a bunt single earlier in the inning. Smith added to the lead with a triple over the head of center-fielder Darin Mastroianni, scoring both Gac and Renny Osuna.
Clinton piled on the 6-0 lead as the Lugnuts turned to left-hander Chi-Hung Cheng. Cristian Santana greeted Cheng rudely, crushing a first-pitch fastball over the scoreboard in left-center with one out in the third. Santana’s third clout of the year made it a 7-0 lead.
Gac capped his night in the fourth inning, driving Cheng’s 3-1 pitch out to deep left-center for his ninth home run. His second home run in as many games made it a 9-0 LumberKings’ lead.
Smith doubled home two more runs as the Kings hung another three- spot on the scoreboard in the fifth, and the Kings led 13-0 after six innings.
The offense was excessive behind the shut-down pitching by right- hander Kennil Gomez. Gomez (W, 3-0) extended his scoreless-streak to 16.0 innings, allowing just four hits and one walk over 6.0 innings. He struck out four and lowered his ERA to a team-best 1.57, winning his third-consecutive decision.
Julio Santana was touched up for a pair of runs late as the Lugnuts cracked the scoreboard. Moises Sierra singled home Adam Calderone in the seventh, and Rodriguez drove in his 21st RBI with a single in the eighth.
Santana (S, 1) worked three innings, and thus was credited with the save. He walked one and struck out three.
Gac’s four hits was the most by a LumberKing this year. Smith finished at 3-for-5 with four RBI, and Jose Felix added two RBI with a 1-for-4 night. Lawson also had three hits, going 3-for-5.
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