MWL1 Burlington Bees

Bees Outlast Loons

Published on July 15, 2007 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Burlington Bees News Release


Midland, MI (July 15, 2007) - The Burlington Bees (12-10, 42-49) scored two runs in the top of the ninth inning to take the lead for the third and final time in a 7-5 win over the Great Lakes Loons (7-14, 41-50) at Dow Diamond this afternoon. The Bees and Loons have been tied at five heading into the ninth inning in each game of this series, but the Bees were able to avoid extra innings today to take a 2-1 lead in this set and a 4-3 lead in the season series.

The Bees scored two runs in the top of the second inning to take an early lead. Michael Thompson led off with a double and moved to third on a passed ball. After a groundout, Jeff Bianchi was hit by a pitch and Jase Turner bounced a single to right field to drive in Thompson and move Bianchi to third. Felix Peralta followed with a sacrifice fly to right field that gave the Bees a 2-0 lead. Those were the only runs allowed by Loons' starter Josh Wall, who worked through six innings.

Bees' starter Harold Mozingo scattered six hits over four scoreless innings before running into trouble in the fifth. Juan Rivera led off with a double and scored on a base hit by Matt Berezay. Tommy Giles followed with a triple into the right field corner that brought in Berezay to tie the game. After striking out Josh Bell, Mozingo gave way to Josh Cribb out of the Bees' bullpen. After a walk to James Peterson, Carlos Santana dribbled a ball up the first base line that stayed fair for an RBI groundout and the Loons took a 3-2 lead.

Thomas Melgarejo followed Wall to the mound in the top of the seventh and with one out, Jamar Walton launched a Melgarejo pitch over the wall in straightaway center field to tie the game at three. It was Walton's second home run of the season and also extended his hitting streak to eight, matching his career-high. Kurt Mertins and Joe Dickerson followed with back-to-back doubles to produce another run and the Bees were back in the lead at 4-3. Dickerson's double extended his hitting streak to eight as well. With Brady Everett at the plate, Dickerson stole third and came home when Santana's throw skipped into left field for an error. Everett walked and Thompson doubled knocking Melgarejo out of the game. David Pfeiffer stranded them to end the inning.

The Loons got one back in the seventh. With two outs, Cribb walked Bell and Peterson lined a double to the wall in deep right-center. The Bees brought in Chris Hayes for the eighth and retired the first batter, but Francisco Lizarraga reached on an infield single and Hayes hit Trayvon Robinson with a pitch. Aaron Hartsock was brought in to face Rivera who bounced to first. The Bees got a force out at second, but couldn't turn two to end the inning. With Berezay at the plate, Rivera took off for second and when Matt Morizio's throw skipped off Bianchi for an error, Lizarraga scored to tie the game. Hartsock struck out Berezay to end the inning making that run unearned.

With one out in the top of the ninth, Dickerson got a base hit to left and went to third on a single to right by Everett. Everett also hustled into second as the throw went towards third base. After an intentional walk to Thompson loaded the bases, Morizio grounded a base hit to right to drive in the go-ahead run. Miguel Ramirez came in out of the Loons bullpen and gave up a single to Bianchi that brought in Everett for an insurance run before getting out of the inning. Hartsock (6-3) then finished off the bottom of the ninth to earn the win. Pfeiffer (2-2) was charged with the loss.

The Bees and Loons will wrap up this series and the season series tomorrow night at 6:05 Central time from Dow Diamond. RH Matt Kniginyzky (1-0, 2.70) will start for the Bees against RH Arismendy Castillo (2-6, 4.99) for the Loons. The game will be broadcast live on KBUR AM 1490 and KBKB AM 1360 with the pre-game show starting at 5:45.

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Midwest League Stories from July 15, 2007


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