Tonight’s Interview: Carlton Tanabe

The LumberKings fell 9-5 last night as Quad Cities scored five times in the ninth to break a 5-5 tie.  The winning run scored as Michael Swinson came home on a two-out bases-loaded wild pitch by Jonathan Arias.  Cody Stanley followed with a three-run double to put the game out of reach.

Clinton had overcome a 5-2 deficit with a three-run fourth inning after a 38-minute rain delay.  Carlton Tanabe started the two-out rally with an RBI double to left-center off Rock Falls, IL native Seth Blair.  He’d later score on a single by Julio Morban, who would in turn score on a single to center by Mickey Wiswall (listen: Wiswall RBI single 6.15.11).  The Kings scored five total runs against Blair, including two on a first-inning homer by Stefen Romero (listen: Romero 2-R HR (#4) 6.15.11), his first since April 30.

My interview tonight is with Tanabe, fresh off his 2-for-4 game.  The 24th round pick out of Pearl City, Hawaii has been Steven Baron’s back-up this season but is now getting a chance to play with Baron on the DL.  We talk about last night’s double, staying productive despite playing sparingly, getting an opportunity to start, his experience with former Mariners’ catcher Dan Wilson earlier this year, being the other half of the Hawaiian battery with Keli’i Zablan and more.

Listen Here:  Tanabe Interview 6.16.11

Tonight’s Game Notes:  6.16.11 kingsnotes

Starting Lineups:

Quad Cities River Bandits (37-28):  Michael Swinson/LF, Ronny Gil/SS, Oscar Taveras/RF, Starlin Rodriguez/2B, Cody Stanley/C, Nick Longmire/CF, Victor Sanchez/DH, Jonathan Rodriguez/3B, Geoff Klein/1B, Trevor Rosenthal/RHP

LumberKings (21-45):  Julio Morban/CF, Mickey Wiswall/DH, Tim Morris/1B, Matt Browning/3B, Kevin Rivers/RF, Jorge Agudelo/2B, Carlos Ramirez/SS, Robbie Anston/LF, Carlton Tanabe/C, James Paxton/LHP

Lefty James Paxton makes his final start before the 2011 Midwest League All-Star Game tonight and is looking to snap Clinton’s five-game losing streak.  Paxton gave up a career-high five earned runs over 5.1 innings in his last start against Bowling Green, but is still 2-2 with a 2.63 ERA and 54 strikeouts over his last seven starts.

The broadcast begins at 6:45 PM, listen online at 1390kcln.com.

-DL