MWL1 Burlington Bees

Bees can't find home against Houser

Published on August 21, 2005 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Burlington Bees News Release


Battle Creek, MI - LH James Houser pitched seven shutout innings and Fernando Perez had two triples and two RBI to lead the Southwest Michigan Devil Rays (31-26, 64-62) to an 8-1 victory over the Burlington Bees (28-29, 62-65) at C.O. Brown Stadium this afternoon. The Bees have lost four in a row and nine straight on the road. With the win, the Devil Rays now lead the season series 4-3.

The Rays got out early again today with a run in the bottom of the first inning. Perez led off with his first triple off the wall in center and scored on a sacrifice fly by Reid Brignac. Bees' starter Patrick Hicklen (6-7) recovered to keep the D-Rays to one run until the fourth. Hicklen hit Chris Nowak with a pitch to start the inning. With one out, Travis Schlicting drove a ball to left-center that bounced over the wall for a ground rule double. A wild pitch scored Nowak and Hicklen hit Craig Markel to put two men on. Tommy Nichols followed with a shot down the left field line. Schlicting scored, but Markel was being held at third until Springer mishandled the ball in left. With Markel racing for the plate, Irving Falu's relay throw sailed all the way to the backstop and Nichols went to third. Nichols was credited with a double and one RBI while both Springer and Falu were charged with errors. After a popout, Perez reached on an infield single to drive in Nichols to cap the four-run inning and extend the D-Rays lead to 5-0.

In the top of the fifth, Gary Perez reached on a one-out single and Cody Cure followed with a slow ground ball to third that the D-Rays turned into a 5-4-3 double play, one of four turned in the game by Southwest Michigan. The play at first was close and Bees' Manager Jim Gabella went to plead his case with base umpire Mike Weinstein who ejected Gabella from the game.

In the bottom of the fifth, Shaun Cumberland launched a solo home run on Hicklen's first pitch and then Nowak doubled and Patrick Breen tripled to chase Hicklen from the game. Yovany Damico took over and got three straight groundouts to get out of the inning and strand Breen at third. Damico did allowed a run in the sixth. Brandon Rousseve singled, went to second on a balk, and scored on Perez' second triple. Damico pitched a scoreless seventh and Adam Rowe allowed one hit in a scoreless eighth to finis the game for the Bees.

Houser (7-7) allowed just five hits and one walk while striking out six through seven innings for the win. Chris Mason pitched the eighth and allowed the Bees' run. Perez walked, Cure singled, both runners advanced on a wild pitch, and Perez scored on a single by Felipe Del Rosario. After a walk to load the bases, the inning ended on when Geraldo Valentin hit into a 5-4-3 double play. Lavelle Morgan finished the game for the D-Rays in the ninth.

The Bees and D-Rays complete this series tomorrow night at 6:05 Central at C.O. Brown Stadium. RH Luis Cota (5-6, 3.82) will start for the Bees against LH Brandon Mann (7-11, 4.33) for the D-Rays. The game will be broadcast live on KBUR AM 1490 and KBKB AM 1360 with the pre-game show starting at 5:45.

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Midwest League Stories from August 21, 2005


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