Crucial series at Clinton begins tonight

By: Morgan Hawk, Kernels radio broadcaster

The Kernels open up a three game series at Clinton tonight. Games will begin Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday night at 7:00 p.m. from Alliant Energy Field in Clinton.

Coming into the series the Kernels trail Clinton by five games in the standings. The LumberKings currently hold the final playoff spot of the second half in the western division of the Midwest League.

Standings:

Quad Cities 27-17 (-) Clinched a playoff spot by winning wild card in first half

Kane County 26-18 (1)

Clinton 23-21 (4)

Beloit 20-24 (7)

Cedar Rapids 18-26 (9)

Peoria 18-26 (9)

Wisconsin 18-26 (9)

Burlington 15-29 (12) Clinched a playoff spot by winning division in first half

Probable pitchers for series:

Wednesday: CR: RHP Justin La Tempa (2-6, 4.71) vs CLI: RHP Taijuan Walker (5-5, 3.04)

La Tempa, 12th round pick 2010 out of Oregon, has pitched as a starter and out of tbe bullpen this season for the Kernels. He has pitched twice against Clinton, and hopefully we see the same Justin La Tempa we saw in his one start against the LumberKings. He picked up the win at Clinton on April 20, going five innings and allowing no runs on four hits. He came out of the bullpen at Clinton on July 8, going 0.1 inning and allowing three runs. La Tempa looked good in his start at home vs. Quad Cities last Friday. He allowed two runs (one earned) over 5.2 innings pitched.

Walker, the 1st round pick of the Seattle Mariners in 2010, has been excellent in his two starts against the Kernels this season. He has picked up two wins and not allowed an earned run in a combined 11 innings. He averages over a strikeout an inning, with 110 strikeouts in 91.2 innings this season.

Thursday: CR: RHP A.J. Schugel (3-3, 2.77) vs. CLI: LHP Tony Butler

Schugel, 25th round pick in 2010, took a no-hitter into the 6th inning in his last start at Peoria on Saturday. He was outstanding out of the bullpen in his only appearance against Clinton. On April 18 at Clinton he went three innings and allowed no runs on one hit, picking up the win in relief. Schugel has pitched very well away from Perfect Game Field this season, possessing a 1.51 earned run average on the road.

Butler, signed by the Mariners earlier this year, has faced the Kernels once this season. He picked up the win at Clinton on July 8, going 5.1 innings and allowing three runs on six hits. His last start was Saturday at Burlington. He took the loss at Community Field in five innings of work. He allowed six runs (five earned) on five hits.

Friday: CR: RHP P.J. Jang (1-4, 4.38) vs CLI: RHP Stephen Kohlscheen (2-3, 5.52)

Jang, signed in 2008 from South Keoria, started against the LumberKings on July 6. He did not fare in the decision but pitched well, allowing three runs in six innings of work. Jang got knocked around a bit early in his last start at Peoria on Sunday, but he battled through five innings and gave the Kernels a chance to win. He took the loss, going five innings and allowing seven runs (five earned) on nine hits.

Kohlscheen, 45th round pick in 2010 out of Auburn, will be making his third start and 18th appearance of the season. Kohlscheen has made one appearance against the Kernels this season. In relief on April 18 at Clinton he went 3.1 innings and allowed one run on no hits while striking out five and walking three. He has done well in a starting role this season, allowing no runs in 11 innings with a 2-0 record in two starts.