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MWL1 Burlington Bees

Bees win on walk-off wild pitch

June 12, 2006 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Burlington Bees News Release


Burlington, IA (June 12, 2006) Jeff Gray's wild pitch in the bottom of the 14th inning allowed Mario Lisson to score the game-winning run as the Burlington Bees (31-31) beat the Kane County Cougars (39-25) 2-1 at Community Field tonight. At three hours and 54 minutes, tonight's game was the longest in both innings and time for the Bees this season. The Bees now lead this series 2-1 and the season series is tied 3-3.

Tonight's starting pitchers both demonstrated why they're headed to the All-Star Game next week. Cougars' starter Jason Ray worked through six innings and allowed just one run on three hits. The run came in the bottom of the third inning. Antonio Sabatini drew a leadoff walk, advanced to second and third on a pair of groundouts, and scored on a two-out single by Josh Johnson. Johnson tied a season-high with three hits, drew a walk, and stole two bases. Bees' starter Chris Nicoll allowed one run on four hits in seven innings. The Cougars got their run in the top of the sixth. Justin Sellers led off with a bunt single and Mike Massaro followed with a bunt up the first base line. Miguel Vega came in to field the ball and flipped toward the bag in between Johnson and Nicoll coming over to cover. Massaro was safe and credited with a hit and Vega was charged with an error when Sellers advanced all the way to third. Nicoll got Nick Blasi to hit into a 6-4-3 double play as Sellers scored and went on to get out of the inning.

The Bees had a chance to win in the bottom of the ninth against Joe Piekarz who followed Ray in the seventh. Piekarz issued a leadoff walk to Lisson and Vega bunted him to second. Jeff Howell singled into left and Jim Gabella had Lisson headed for the plate the whole way, but Wes Long made a perfect throw to the plate to cut down Lisson and then Steve Sharpe came in and got Chris McConnell to groundout to end the inning.

Kraig Schambough and Chris Hayes did a masterful job in relief for the Bees. Schambough faced the minimum through four innings. He walked Massaro with two outs in the eighth, but Howell threw him out trying to steal. Schambough fanned five. Hayes (1-2) finished the final three innings for his first win in affiliated pro ball. He allowed one hit and one walk while striking out four. The three Bees' pitchers combined to strike out 13 to match the team high for the year.

Sharpe worked through 2.1 scoreless innings and Brady Kilby took over in the 12th. After two scoreless innings, Lisson singled against him to start the 14th. Vega moved him to second with his second sacrifice bunt of the game. With Kiel Thibault batting, Lisson stole third. Kilby then walked Thibault intentionally before Gray came in to face McConnell. Gray's third pitch skipped in the dirt past catcher Anthony Recker and Lisson raced in with the game-winning run.

The Bees and Cougars wrap up this series tomorrow night at 7:00 at Community Field. Tomorrow's game is the last home game of the first half of the season for the Bees. RH Michael Penn (4-2, 2.91) will start for the Bees against RH Trey Shields (6-5, 5.22) for the Cougars. Tomorrow is a Hawk Eye 2-for-Tuesday. The gates open at 6:00 and the game will be broadcast live on KBUR AM 1490 and KBKB AM 1360 with the pre-game show starting at 6:40.

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