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Burlington Bees

Bees Bats Bust Out to Beat Wizards

April 17, 2006 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Burlington Bees News Release


Burlington, IA (April 17, 2006) - Miguel Vega's two-run double and three-run homer helped lead the Burlington Bees (6-5) to a 13-2 win over the Ft. Wayne Wizards (6-4) in tonight's series opening game at Community Field. All nine starters had a hit or scored a run in the team's biggest offensive night of the year. The Bees have won two in a row for the first time this season. The Wizards walked eight batters and committed four errors.

The Bees broke a scoreless tie with three runs in the bottom of the third with a rally that started on a two-out walk to Kiel Thibault from Wizards' starter Ben Kroschell. Carlos Arroyo and Valentino Arce followed with singles to produce the first run and Vega's double drove them both in. Kroschell allowed an unearned run in the fourth and was done after the inning.

The Bees broke the game open against Eddie Pena in the fifth. Arroyo reached on an error by Daryl Jones at first, Arce followed with a base hit, and Vega cleared the bases with a long home run to left-center. Vega leads the team with two home runs and set a season and career-high with 5 RBI. After a groundout, Antonio Sabatini walked, Josh Johnson singled, and Chris McConnell walked to load the bases. After a popout, Thibault hit a bouncer over the mound that shortstop Ray Chang had to field and throw on the move. His throw was in the dirt and skipped past Jones at first. Thibault was credited with an infield single and an RBI and Johnson scored on an error to complete the five-run inning and extend the Bees' lead to 9-0. Only two of the five runs were earned. The Bees tacked on their final four runs against Kyle Pawelczyk in the seventh. Two walks, two singles, and a passed ball led to one run and the bases loaded with nobody out. Thibault hit a hot shot through the legs of Chad Steiner at third that scored two runs. Steiner was charged with an error and Thibault was credited with one RBI. Brandon Higelin took over and got a flyout before Arce drove in the final run with a sacrifice fly to left. The Bees have drawn 18 walks and have had two batters hit by a pitch in the last two games.

Bees' starter Matt Kniginyzky (2-0) got out of a bases loaded jam in the top of the first and worked six shutout innings for the win. He allowed four hits and one walk while striking out five. In two home starts, he has allowed just one run in twelve innings. Adam Kalkhof and Rayner Oliveros each pitched a scoreless inning in relief, but the Wizards spoiled the shutout bid with two runs against Cody Harkcom in the ninth. Jones singled, Will Venable doubled, and both scored on a one-out double by Steiner.

The Bees and Wizards continue this series tomorrow night at 7:00 at Community Field. LH Ryan DiPietro (1-0, 1.32) will start for the Bees against RH Stevie Delabar (0-0, 2.25) for the Wizards. Tomorrow is a Hawk Eye 2-for-Tuesday. Fans can bring the coupon from Tuesday's Hawk Eye newspaper and get two GA tickets for the price of one. The gates will 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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