Broadcast/Media Relations: Erik Oas | [email protected] | Tel: 563-242-0727 x107 | 537 Ballpark Drive Clinton, IA 52732 | www.lumberkings.com Clinton LumberKings vs. Dayton Dragons 15-14 (Miami Marlins) 11-19 (Cincinnati Reds) Tuesday, May 7, 2019 – 6:00 p.m. (CDT) Fifth Third Field (opened 2000) – Dayton, OH Game #30 of 139 RHP Humberto Mejia (2-0, 2.81) vs. RHP Jared Solomon (0-1, 4.58) Today’s Preview: The LumberKings (A, Marlins) continue their longest road trip of the year in both Class-A AFFILIATE OF THE innings played and miles traveled with the second game of a three-game series with the Dayton Dragons (A, Reds). This is the LumberKings first trip to Dayton since 2016 after Clinton hosted all of the meeting Series Information in 2017 and 2018. Last season, they dropped the first two games of the series with Dayton before rebounding to win the series finale on a Jack Larsen walk-off home run. Thus far in the head-to-head All-Time Series (1988): meetings the LumberKings trail the Dragons 51 games to 55. Dayton leads, 51-55 LumberKing Starter: Humberto Mejia, 22, makes his seventh appearance and fifth start of the year Since 2019 (MIA): with the LumberKings. The Panama native earned the win his last time out for a five-inning outing at Dayton leads, 0-1 home against the South Bend Cubs. The start was his strongest of the year allowing just a bloop single during his time out as the LumberKings went on to take the series opener 3-1. In addition, Mejia issued 2019: Dayton leads, 0-1 (of 3) just one walk while striking out five. Mejia has yo-yoed between starter and reliever this year typically In Clinton: Series tied, 0-0 piggy backing a start when he comes out from the bullpen. The Miami Marlins signed him as an In Dayton: Dayton leads, 0-1 international free agent on September 16th, 2013 out of Panama who he then pitched for in the World One-Run Games: Dayton leads, 0-1 Miami Marlins (Majors) Baseball Classic (WBC) in 2016. Mejia’s WBC memories are still his favorite of his professional Extra-Innings: Series tied, 0-0 National League (East) baseball career 10-24 5th 9.0 GB Last night: W, 6-5 at Chicago (NL) Dragons Starter: Jared Solomon, 21, makes his sixth appearance and start of the season for the Dayton 2019 Meetings: Dragons. The Lackawanna, Pennsylvania native was given a no decision his last time out for five innings Berti (MIA), 1-2, 2 R, HR, RBI, 2 BB of work in which he allowed two runs on four hits while walking one and striking out six against the Date Location Result/Time Rizzo (CHC), 2-4, R, HR, 2 RBI, BB Peoria Chiefs at Dozer Park. A hard throwing right-hander he regularly touched 96 MPH with his fastball 5/6 at Dayton L, 4-5 Conley (MIA), W, 1 IP, H, R, K while pitching for as Lackawanna Community College. The high velocity led to him being selected by 5/7 at Dayton 6:00 p.m. the Cincinnati Reds in the 11th round of the 2017 MLB Draft. He spent his first season of pro ball with 5/8 at Dayton 6:00 p.m. the AZL Reds before splitting his 2018 season between Billings Mustangs and Dayton Dragon. While Marlins Minor League System pitching in the Midwest League last season he did not face the LumberKings. The Sheriff: Will Banfield continues to stifle any running game opponents attempt to have against him. New Orleans Baby Cakes (Triple-A) During Monday’s loss to the Dragons he caught all three of Dayton’s would be base stealers with perfect Pacific Coast League throws to second base. Twice he caught Shard Monroe to become the first batcher in the Midwest League MWL 1st Half Standings Pacific Conference (South) to throw him out on steal attempt this year. This year 64 stolen base attempts have been tired against Banfield with only 22 succeeding – a success rate of just 34%. 17-14 2nd 1.5 GB MWL Western Division Last Night: W, 4-0 vs. Oklahoma That Damn Horn: The fog horn – which follows every Dragons home run at Fifth Third Field – was W-L GB Riddle (NO), 1-3, R, HR, RBI featured prominently in Monday night’s series opener with Dayton slugging four home runs. The home Quad Cities 19-10 - Rios (OKC), 0-1, K, 3 BB runs surrendered by Clinton pitching were the most allowed in a game this year an accounted for all five Burlington 19-12 1.0 Hernandez (OKC), W, 6.1 IP, 0 R, 10 K of the runs surrendered. LumberKings starter George Soriano – who had begun the year without allowing Kane County 17-14 3.0 a home run over his 17.2 innings – has now allowed five home runs over his last 4.2 innings of work. Clinton 15-14 4.0 Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp (Double-A) Peoria 13-15 5.5 Down by Way Of the K: The offense for Clinton this season has been one built on the home run -25 as Southern League (South) Cedar Rapids 13-17 6.5 a team ranks as the second most in the league – and the strikeout. The K has been a factor in stalling Wisconsin 12-17 7.0 10-21 7th 11.0 GB several of the LumberKings rallies this year and showed itself in Monday night’s loss. Clinton batters Beloit 9-18 9.0 Last Night: L, 2-8 at Mobile struck out nine times in the game seven of them occurring over the final three innings. As a team they Miller (JAX), 1-4, R, RBI have now struck out 370 times most in the league and 37 more times than the next closest team the MWL Eastern Division Burlington Bees. Kruger (MOB), 3-5, 2 R, 2B, 2 RBI W-L GB Castillo (MOB), W, 8.2 IP, 4 H, 2 R Home Cooking with the Spinach: The Clinton LumberKings are now on the road and away from their Great Lakes 18-12 - power base. They enter the action with the second most home runs in the Midwest League with 25 with Lake County 17-13 1.0 Jupiter Hammerheads (High-A) 17 of those coming at home. Clinton failed to hit a home run in until a week into the season. Their most Bowling Green 17-14 1.5 Florida State League (South) recent opponents, the South Bend Cubs brought up the rear with just eight home runs as a team. South Bend 16-14 2.0 9-19 6th 9.5 GB West Michigan 14-15 3.5 Last Night: **RAINED OUT** League Leaders: The Clinton LumberKings have several players at or among the league leaders. Lansing 14-16 4.0 Christopher Torres, placed on the injured list on April 28th, is currently tied for sixth in the league - along Fort Wayne 13-17 5.0 with teammate Sean Reynolds - in walks with 19. Jerar Encarnacion finds himself on many lists – he Dayton 11-19 7.0 Clinton LumberKings (Class A) currently owns the most RBIs 25, most total bases, 60, hits, 38, and his .336 average is the fourth highest *First Half Division Champion Midwest League (West) in the league. Bubba Hollins was ranked second in the league in average with a .358 mark at the time of 15-14 4th 4.0 GB his injury but no longer is qualified after having sat out since May 2nd. Last Night: L, 4-5 at Dayton Banfield (CLI), 2-3, R, 2B, 3B, 3 RBI Quality Returns: The Clinton LumberKings closed out their series with the South Bend Cubs with a pair of quality starts. Marking the first time in 2019 that Clinton received back-to-back quality starts. The Spillane (DAY),2-3, R, 2B, HR,2 RBI quality starts were just the fourth and fifth of the season for LumberKings pitching and their first since Pinto (DAY), W, 1.1 IP, 0 R, 3 K April 25th. Batavia Muckdogs (Rookie) This Date in Baseball History: On this date in 2003, a man wanted by the police on drug and parole- New York-Penn League (Pickney) violations is apprehended at the Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati. The 24 year-old Westwood man's cover was blown when his parole officer saw him kissing his girlfriend on the stadium's scoreboard **Not Playing** during Kiss Cam. GCL Marlins (Rookie) Broadcast Information: All Clinton LumberKings games will be broadcast live on 100.3 FM WCCI Gulf Coast League (East) and online at LumberKings.com via TuneIn Radio App with the Erik Oas, in his third season as the Upcoming Probable Pitchers: Clinton/Opponents. **Not Playing** “Voice of the LumberKings.” W ED 5/8 at Dayton RH Tanner Andrews (0-0, 2.25) vs. RH Ricky Salinas (0-0, 4.50) 6:00 p.m. THU 5/9 at Bowling Green RH Humberto Mejia (2-0, 2.81) vs. TBA 6:35 p.m. FRI 5/10 at Bowling Green RH Chris Vallimont (1-2, 2.78) vs. TBA 6:35 p.m. SAT5/11 at Bowling Green RH George Soriano (0-2, 5.64) vs. TBA 6:35 p.m. Tonight’s Starting Pitcher #29 Humberto Mejia HT: 6-3 WT: 175 Bats: Right Throws: Right Age: 22 Born: March 3, 1997 Resides: Panama City, Panama Acquired: Signed as Free Agent September 16th, 2013 LAST TIME OUT: Mejia turned in his strongest start of the season his last time out and began his outing by setting down the first nine South Bend Cubs he faced.