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Top Prospect Russell Shines in Bees' Win

August 21, 2012 - Midwest League (MWL) Burlington Bees

BURLINGTON, Iowa (8/21/12) - The Athletics' 2012 first round pick Addison Russell helped the Burlington Bees (64-62, 32-25) defeat the Kane County Cougars (63-64, 29-28) 6-to-3. Tuesday's victory meant the teams split the four-game series.

A day after getting his first hit in the Midwest League, Addison Russell earned his first multi-hit and multi-run game with the Bees.

Russell had three hits and brought his average up from .143 to .333 in the win. Russell drove in a run (his second RBI with the club) and scored twice.

Russell first scored in the bottom of the third when the Bees pushed for runners across home plate to take a 4-to-1 lead. The inning started when Michael Fabiaschi reached on a throwing error by the Cougars shortstop. Aaron Shipman followed with a knock and Rus- sell reached on a throwing error by the third baseman. The bases were loaded for Max Muncy who promptly hit a sac fly to right field for to tied the game.

But the Bees weren't done loading the bases and they weren't done scoring. Landaeta followed Muncy with a base hit to load the bases for Wade Kirkland. Kirkland hit an RBI single to center that plated another run and kept the bases loaded. Rashun Dixon followed Kirk- land and took a pitch in the back to bring another run home and keep the bases juiced. The trend finally ended after Bobby Crocker's RBI single to left.

The Bees had a 4-to-1 lead before Russell scored on a base hit by Landaeta and a throwing error by the Cougars' right fielder. The Bees' final run came on a two-out RBI single by Russell in the seventh.

Overall, the 11th overall pick of the 2012 draft went 3-for-5 and reached four times. Not only did Russell earn his first multi-hit and multi-run game with the Bees, he also stole his first base and had an RBI. The 18-year-old shortstop made one error, but also made a spectacular leaping grab that robbed Chris Elder of a bloop-single to left.

Russell's web gem was impressive, but it might not have topped Rashun Dixon's catch in the bottom of the eighth. The Bees' left fielder tracked down a deep fly ball to left field by Michael Antonio before he paused, leapt at the wall and robbed Antonio of a home run. The Bees had several dazzling defensive plays, while the Cougars committed three errors. In fact, five of the Bees' six runs were unearned runs.

Chris Lamb extended his win streak to three games with a winning effort in game four. Lamb (3-2) pitched 5.1 innings and allowed five hits, three runs (two earned), and four walks. Logan Chitwood followed with 2.2 perfect innings out of the pen and Jose Macias earned his seventh save.

The Bees turn their attention to the first-place Clinton LumberKings who visit Burlington for a three-game series. Right-handed pitcher Drew Granier (11-7) is scheduled to start game one, which is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. CT on Wednesday.

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Midwest League Stories from August 21, 2012


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