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Appleton, WI - The Clinton LumberKings built a 9-0 lead on a three-run double by Jake Shaffer and three-run homer by Steve Moss, then hung on for a 9-7 win against the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers at Time Warner Cable Field.

The LumberKings got to left-hander Efrain Nieves early as Daniel Carroll, Luis Nunez and Scott Savastano each reached to load the bases in the first inning. After a strikeout by Denny Almonte, Shaffer came through with a frozen-rope off the wall in right, clearing the bases for a 3-0 lead. Shaffer then came home on Nate Tenbrink's single to right, staking the Kings to a 4-0 advantage.

An inning later, the Kings were at it again. Carroll ripped a one-out triple to right-center and scored on an error by Peter Fatse. Nunez and Savastano then reached on back-to-back singles, and Almonte beat out a fielder's choice to plate Nunez. After a walk by Shaffer put runners at first and second, Moss lifted a towering fly ball that got over the high wall in left for a three-run homer. His fourth blast of the year made it 9-0.

Starter Alfredo Venegas worked a quick first inning, but ran into trouble in the second. John Delaney doubled home a run and Michael Vass followed with an RBI single to cut into the lead. Michael Marseco laced an RBI triple to right-center and scored on a groundout by Juan Sanchez to make it a 9-4 game in the fourth.

Venegas (W, 3-3) stayed on in the fifth and yielded two more runs. Three-straight singles by Corey Kemp, Brock Kjeldgaard and Delaney loaded the bases for Marseco, who drove in two more runs with a double. Venegas exited after the fifth, allowing six earned runs on 10 hits, walking two while striking out five.

Relievers Blake Nation (H, 4) and Cheyne Hann (H, 6) kept Wisconsin off the scoreboard for 3.0 innings, but closer Ruben Flores found himself in a jam in the ninth. Lorenzo Cain walked and Brett Lawrie doubled to start the inning, and Kemp sent Cain home with an RBI grounder. Flores (S, 16) settled back in, striking out Kjeldgaard and Delaney for his ninth save in his last 10 outings.

Nieves (L, 2-5) took the loss for Wisconsin, giving up nine runs on eight hits over just 2.0 innings. The Rattlers pen did not surrender another run over the final 7.0 innings.

Eight of the nine LumberKings' starters had hits in the contest. Carroll posted a season-best 3-for-4 night including two runs scored and two stolen bases atop the order. Nunez and Savastano chipped in two-hit nights, while Shaffer and Moss each had three-RBI games.

The LumberKings (4-4) head home to Alliant Energy Field to open a four-game series with the Kane County Cougars (4-4) tomorrow night. First pitch is scheduled for 6:00 PM. Listen to the game on AM 1390 KCLN in Clinton or live on the web at www.kcln.com.

This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.

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