The WoodChipper: Miami Marlins Clinton LumberKings Farm Report

The LumberKings had a strong week before getting swept by the Kane County Cougars.

The Midwest League’s Miami Marlins affiliate is the Clinton LumberKings. After a 33-36 first half of the season, they jumped out to a lead in the tough MWL Western Division with 21 wins in 30 games. Our report starts on July 18th, against the Great Lakes Loons (Los Angeles Dodgers), makes a stop at home against the Lansing Lugnuts (Toronto Blue Jays), and finishes up on the road against the Cougars (Arizona Diamondbacks).

July 18

Alberto Guerrero would fail to make it out of the first inning, finishing his night after only collecting two outs. Guerrero allowed four earned runs on four hits. He also walked four, while only striking out one. Elkin Alcala (2-2, 2.31) relieved him and pitched masterfully. Alcala tossed a new professional high – 4 1/3 innings – allowing only one hit and striking out three. He would pick up his third win for his effort.

The Clinton LumberKings offense would explode to the tune of 16 runs on 17 hits. Both would be season highs. Christopher Torres, Connor Scott, Peyton Burdick, and J.D. Osborne all finished the game with three-hit performances. Osborne would have a solo HR, his sixth tater of the year. Peyton Burdick added a two run shot for his third of the season. The big blow would come from Will Banfield, he would launch the teams first GRAND SLAM, his sixth round-tripper for Clinton.

July 19

In the third and rubber game of the series, George Soriano (3-6, 4.09) won his third game of the season. Soriano would go 7 2/3 allowing two earned runs on six hits. He walked three and struck out six. Nathan Alexander closed it out for save number one, allowing only one hit over the 1 1/3 innings in the Kings 3-2 win.

Evan Edwards would hit his second HR of the year in the second inning. Connor Scott scored on a double play and Marcos Rivera came home on a wild pitch on the way to their second win in a row, with a 3-2 victory.

July 20

Eight of the nine starting Clinton LumberKings in the lineup would reach via a hit. The only hitless King, Bubba Hollins, drove in a run with a ground out. Evan Edwards connected deep for the second straight night, this one a two-run shot that proved to be the game winner in the 10th.

Josh Roberson went four innings while allowing three runs on five hits. Roberson struck out three. Manuel Rodriguez came in for 3 1/3 scoreless innings, striking out three. Zach Wolf (4-1, 3.58) collected his fourth victory, tossing 2 2/3 innings while giving up one unearned run and striking out three in the 5-4, extra inning victory.

July 21

The Lumberkings got five solid innings out of Remey Reed. He would allow only one earned run on five hits, striking out seven but finishing with no decision. Raul Brito (3-2, 5.54) suffered the loss, blowing his first save in this one as the Kings would fall 4-2.

Christopher Torres scored on a Peyton Burdick sacrifice fly. Thomas Jones drove home Will Banfield with his 12th double.

July 22

Looking to win the rubber game for a series victory, the Clinton LumberKings jumped out to a 1-0 when Connor Scott singled home Christopher Torres. The Lugnuts then took a 2-1 lead in the fifth. It wouldn’t last long, as Will Banfield knocked in Davis Bradshaw and Torres to regain the lead 3-2. They later added an insurance run in the ninth as Evan Edwards came home on an error.

Jake Walters (2-3, 2.82) finished with the win and a Quality Start.. He’d go six innings, allowing two earned runs on seven hits, walking one and striking out three. Elkin Alcala earned his first hold throwing two scoreless. Cam Baird then came in and struck out the side in the ninth for his second save.

July 24

The Kings opened their series against the Kane County Cougars holding a one game lead over the Diamondbacks MWL affiliate. They gave the ball to Tanner Andrews (4-4, 3.93) to start this game and Tanner would end up taking the loss. Andrews went 6 1/3 innings while allowing three earned runs on five hits. He’d walk two and strike out four, finishing with a Quality Start despite the loss. Nathan Alexander gave up two earned runs on three hits in 1 2/3 innings worked. Tyler Kolek struck out two while pitching the ninth.

The offense could only manage three runs on ten hits on the night. Davis Bradshaw would go three-for-five to boost his average to .248. Thomas Jones connected on his eighth home run of the year. Connor Scott would extend his hit streak to 14 games, and Christopher Torres would extend his to 12. The 5-3 loss would drop the club into a tie for first for the division.

July 25

Alberto Guerrero (4-5, 2.87) would take the loss on the night after lasting 3 2/3 innings and allowing four runs – but only one would be earned. He surrendered six hits, and only managed one strikeout. The Kings bullpen would toss 5 1/3 hitless, scoreless innings.

Christopher Torres would extend his hit streak to 13, only to be driven in when Connor Scott extended his to 15 with his 24th double. This would be all the runs the Kings would get on the night as they would fall 4-2, moving them a game out of first for the division lead.

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July 26

The Clinton LumberKings were looking to avoid a sweep and move back in to a tie for the division lead on Friday. George Soriano (3-7, 4.32) took the mound and was chased after just three innings by giving up four earned runs on six hits. He walked two and struck out three. Manuel Rodriguez would come on in relief. The Kings would get one back in the second when they would load the bases and J.D. Osborne would score on a wild pitch. Christopher Torres extended his hit streak to 14 and Connor Scott would reach 16. In the bottom of the fifth the Kings would load the bases for the second time and come up empty. In the bottom of the seventh Peyton Burdick would launch a two-run homer, his fourth of the season to cut the lead to 5-3. Rodriguez would exit after five innings allowing one earned run on five hits, walking one and striking out one. Elkin Alcala would come in to pitch the ninth inning. He would give up a infield single, then quickly erase it by picking him off first. He would strike out the next batter then get a fly out to end inning. They would fail to score in the bottom half falling 5-3. Falling now two games out of first

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