Clinton Lumber Kings

BURLINGTON, Iowa — Jalen Martinez delivered the decisive blow with a three-run home run in the eighth inning, as the Clinton LumberKings (6-4) pulled away late to earn a 6-3 victory over the Burlington Bees (6-3) on Thursday night at Community Field.

Clinton produced 10 hits on the night and leaned on strong bullpen work to secure its second straight win. The LumberKings are winners in 4 of their last 5 games and are 3-1 on the current road trip after a win in Peru, a split doubleheader in Springfield, and tonight's win against Burlington.

The LumberKings struck first in the third inning when Brayden Mulkey singled to right field, scoring Brytton Clements from second base to give Clinton a 1-0 lead.

Burlington answered in the bottom of the fourth. Cole Yearsley reached base and later came around to score on a throwing error by the Clinton pitcher, tying the game at 1-1.

Mulkey came through again in the fifth inning, singling to center to drive in Clements once more, giving the LumberKings a 2-1 advantage they would not relinquish. Mulkey finished the game 2-for-5 with two RBI, while Clements went 2-for-4 and scored twice.

In the seventh, James Hackett extended the lead with a solo home run to right field, making it 3-1. One inning later, Clinton broke the game open. Following a single by Max Burt and a walk to Sam Wiese, Martinez launched a drive over the left-field wall for a three-run homer, giving the LumberKings a commanding 6-1 lead.

Burlington rallied in the ninth, cutting into the deficit with an RBI double from Nolan Grawe and an RBI single by Conor Fitzpatrick, but Jacob Young closed out the game to secure the win for Clinton.

On the mound, Will Schufreider (1-2) turned in a strong performance out of the bullpen, tossing five innings and allowing two hits and one unearned run while striking out three to earn the win. Starter Nick Baffa worked three scoreless innings, and Young pitched the ninth despite allowing two late runs.

The penultimate game of the road trip is set for Saturday, at Community Field with first pitch set for 6:30 as the LumberKings look to return the favor to the Bees after being swept by Burlington last weekend. Clinton will finish the road trip on Sunday in Peru, IL. 

Fans can watch on prospectleaugenetwork.com or listen for free at wcciradio.com or on 100.3 WCCI-FM on the radio.