CEDAR RAPIDS —
Seven wins separate the Clinton LumberKings from their final goal in the 2012 season: a Midwest League Championship.
With a 10-3 thumping over Cedar Rapids on Monday afternoon at Perfect Game Field, the LumberKings carry a 10-game winning streaking into the playoffs.
The LumberKings start a three-game series with the Beloit Snappers in the first round of the playoffs with a home game at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at Ashford University Field. Game 2 is Thursday at Pohlman Field in Beloit, Wis., and, if necessary, Game 3 will be in Beloit as well.
The LumberKings smacked four home runs en route to the big win to close out the regular season Monday.
With his team trailing 1-0 going to the third inning, Clinton center fielder Patrick Brady got the offense rolling with his second homer of the season, a solo shot to left field. Kernels left-hander Michael Johnson went on to walk three of the next four hitters, and then hit Ramon Morla with the bases loaded to force in a run. Mike Dowd followed with a sacrifice fly to make it 3-1. With two away in the inning, Jabari Blash ripped a two-run double to the gap in right-center to boost the lead to 5-1.
The Kernels came right back with two runs in the bottom of the third inning against LumberKings starter Rusty Shellhorn to trim the lead to 5-3. A 1-6-3 double play started by Shellhorn ended the jam.
That’s as close as Cedar Rapids got, though, as Clinton’s offense erupted for five more runs, with three coming in the fifth.
With one out in the fifth, Ji-Man Choi walked and was quickly brought around to score on Morla’s towering two-run blast that left the stadium. Later in the inning, Blash added his 15th homer of the year, a solo shot to left-center that also left the ballpark.
Dillon Hazlett hit his second home run in as many days in the eighth inning, giving Clinton four in the game and 102 in the regular season. Shellhorn settled in and threw seven strong innings, earning his third win in four starts. Jeremy Dobbs worked two scoreless innings in relief to bring the regular season to a close.
Clinton finished with a 48-22 mark in the second half, the most wins in a half in franchise history. Winners in 17 of their last 18 games, the LumberKings completed the dramatic turnaround with a 71-67 record overall.
The LumberKings send right-hander Bobby Shore (4-3, 1.94 ERA) to the mound in Game 1 against Beloit on Wednesday. The Snappers have yet to announce a starter.
Tickets are available at the stadium box office or by calling the LumberKings at (563) 242-0727.
Sports
September 4, 2012
L’Kings close with 10 straight
Playoffs start Wednesday vs. Beloit at home
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