Clinton LumberKings Defeat Burlington Bees - Midwest League

MLN Newswire - www.mlntherawfeed.com - Burlington, IA – After the first six innings yielded a 2-2 tie between the Clinton LumberKings and the Burlington Bees, Kings’ right-fielder Miguel Alfonzo took over, blasting a two-run homer to left and adding a two-run single as Clinton claimed their fourth-straight victory Sunday afternoon.

 

The LumberKings fell behind early as Bees’ designated-hitter Kyle Martin stroked a solo home run over the left-field fence in the second inning off right-hander Kennil Gomez.  Gomez settled down afterwards, allowing just that run on seven hits over 5.0 innings while striking out five.

 

Righty Danny Gutierrez kept the Kings’ offense at bay over the first five innings as well, giving up four hits while striking out four.  It was after his exit that the Clinton offense got going.

 

With left-hander Burke Baldwin on the hill in the sixth, Mitch Moreland ended the shutout with a two-run clout to straightaway center, clearing the batter’s eye for his third home run in the last two games.  Number eight on the year made it a 2-1 Clinton advantage.

 

The Bees tied it right back up against right-hander Keisuke Ueno in the bottom of the sixth.  Jamar Walton coaxed a two-out walk, stole second and then scored on an error as Ueno missed a catch covering first on a ground ball by Juan Rivera.

 

Knotted at 2-2, Alfonzo’s heroics began.  Facing Baldwin with Davis Stoneburner on at second, Alfonzo dropped his back shoulder and muscled a two-run drive to left, his second homer of the road trip and fourth of the season.

 

Things did get chippy after Alfonzo’s trip around the bases as Carlos Dominguez was hit up around the head by Baldwin’s next pitch.  Some banter between Dominguez and Baldwin ensued, and both dugouts were issued a warning with no ejections.

 

Some close calls also kept things interesting in the eighth.  Jonathan Greene lead off with a double and Tim Smith walked to put a pair on against Baldwin.  On a double-steal, Greene appeared to be out by a mile at third base, but was called safe.  Bees’ manager Brian Rupp came out of the dugout and was soon tossed by base umpire Ryan Blakney.

 

When action resumed, Alfonzo put the game out of reach with a flare into shallow left, plating both Greene and Smith for a 6-2 lead.

 

Again, the next hitter was Dominguez.  This time facing right-hander Paul Raglione who had just come on, the Kings’ catcher was again hit, this time square in the helmet.  After laying sprawled on the ground for a minute, he was helped to his feet by trainer Jacob Newburn and made it off the field under his own power.

 

17-year-old left-hander Joseph Ortiz (H, 1) made the lead stand with 2.0 innings of shutout relief, and right-hander Adalberto Flores gave up a pair of two-out singles before striking out Mike Moustakas in a non-save ninth.

 

Ueno (W, 3-1) suffered his first blown save, but earned the victory with an unearned run and a walk over one inning.  Burlington lefty Baldwin (L, 1-1) also took his first blown save, serving up all six Clinton runs over 2.2 innings.

 

Alfonzo’s 3-for-4, four-RBI game was his best of the year, eclipsing a three-RBI game on May 11.  Moreland also added two RBI, finishing 2-for-5.

 

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