MWL1 Burlington Bees

Bad End to Bees Extra-Long Day

Published on July 13, 2007 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Burlington Bees News Release


Midland, MI (July 13, 2007) - As if a nine-hour bus ride just to arrive wasn't long enough, the Burlington Bees (10-10, 40-49) and Great Lakes Loons (7-12, 41-48) played ten innings before an error brought in the winning run to give the Loons a 6-5 victory at Dow Diamond tonight. Ten innings also marks the longest game in Loons' history. This was the first of a four-game series and the Loons now lead the season series 3-2.

The Loons won this game despite committing three errors and walked eleven Bees' batters. James Adkins started the trend by walking Derrick Robinson on four pitches to start the game. Adkins, the 37th overall selection in this year's draft by the Los Angeles Dodgers out of the University of Tennessee, was activated just before game time and worked around the walk to pitch a scoreless first in his professional debut tonight. Steven Johnson followed him to the mound in the second and with one out, walked the bases loaded to bring up Jamar Walton. Walton lined a single to left to drive in a run and extend his hitting streak to seven games. Robinson followed with a fly ball to center that appeared to be a sacrifice fly, but the base umpire called Walton out for passing Jase Turner on the basepaths. The Bees disputed the claim, but the call ended the inning. The Bees added a run in the third, but the Loons tied the game on a two-run double by James Peterson in the bottom of the inning.

The Loons took their first lead in the bottom of the fourth inning against Bees' starter Jason Godin. With one out, Trayvon Robinson led off with a bunt single, took second when Matt Morizio's throw to first sailed down the right field line for an error, and scored on a base hit by Matt Berezay. Ed Cegarra pitched the fifth and allowed a run on three hits. Josh Bell led off with a single and scored on a double by Carlos Santana. Henry Barrera took over in the sixth and worked two scoreless innings.

David Pfeiffer took over on the mound for the Loons in the sixth inning and worked two scoreless innings before running into trouble in the eighth. He walked Michael Thompson and Jeff Bianchi to start the inning. With Felix Peralta pinch-running for Thompson at second, Morizio laid down a bunt. Pfeiffer fielded and looked at third, had no play, then slipped when he looked back to first, and had no play as Morizio got a bunt hit to load the bases. After a popout, Miguel Ramirez came in and Jeff Howell ripped a double inside the bag at third to drive in two and tie the game. It was the first successful pinch-hit for a Bee this season. Robinson followed with a sacrifice fly to drive in pinch-runner Jesus Soto with the run to put the Bees back on top 5-4.

Aaron Hartsock came in to pitch in the bottom of the eighth and walked Robinson to start the inning. Berezay moved him to second with a sacrifice bunt and Adolfo Gonzalez drove him in with his third hit of the game to tie the game at five. In the top of the ninth, the Bees had Bianchi at first with two outs when Soto lined a double into the left field corner. Bianchi tried to score, but the Loons put together a good relay to the plate and got the benefit of a close call to end the inning. Hartsock worked a scoreless ninth to force extra innings. The Bees didn't score in the top of the tenth against Thomas Melgarejo, the Loons' fifth pitcher of the game. In the bottom of the tenth, Scott Van Slyke lined a single off the glove of a diving Mertins at second base. Robinson bunted him to second and after an intentional walk to Berezay, Gonzalez hit a hard ground ball that went through the legs of Mertins into right field and Van Slyke raced him with the game-winning run. Hartsock (5-3) got the loss and was charged with his second blown save. Melgarejo (4-5) picked up the win.

The Bees and Loons continue this series tomorrow night at 7:00 ET at Dow Diamond. RH Mario Santiago (1-6, 2.67) will start for the Bees against LH Clayton Kershaw (7-3, 2.13) for the Loons. The game will be broadcast live on KBUR AM 1490 and KBKB AM 1360 with the pre-game show starting at 5:40.

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Midwest League Stories from July 13, 2007


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