MWL1 Burlington Bees

Clinton Sweeps Burlington, 5-3

Published on September 1, 2012 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Burlington Bees News Release


CLINTON, Iowa - The Burlington Bees (67-69, 35-32) couldn't keep up with the Clinton LumberKings (68-67, 45-22) and lost 5-to-3 on Friday night. Burlington suffered its first sweep in the month of August and has lost three-consec- utive games for only the second time this month. The club went 2-5 on their last road trip of the season.

While all three games in the series were closely contested affairs, the Bees never truly threatened the LumberKings. Clin- ton's outstanding pitching stymied almost every potential Burlington rally.

Despite the offensive woes, the Bees managed to jump out to an early lead in the top of the first. With one out and the bases empty, Addison Russell smacked a double off the left-centerfield wall to start a brief rally. Max Muncy followed Rus- sell with an RBI double over the left fielder's head that gave the Bees a 1-to-0 lead.

It wasn't long before the LumberKings responded with two runs. Clinton tied the game with an RBI single off of Dan Paolini's bat, and took the lead with a sacrifice fly from Ramon Morla. The Bees trailed 2-to-1 after one inning.

The Bees came into Friday's game without a home run in the last 13 games, but the club's fortune changed when Wade Kirkland cranked a two-run homer over the left field wall. The two-run bomb gave the Bees a 3-to-2 lead. Kirkland's eighth home run improved on his team-leading total of 55 RBIs. The high RBI total comes as no surprise since the slugger has hit all of his home runs with at least one runner on base.

Unfortunately the Bees couldn't match the LumberKings' offense after the second inning. Clinton tied the game on an RBI grounder by Dan Paolini in the third inning, but Paolini wasn't done torturing the Bees. The designated hitter scored the go-ahead run on an RBI single by Morla in the sixth inning.

The LumberKings added an insurance run when Jharmidy De Jesus knocked a solo home run off the left field foul pole. Clinton led Burlington 5-to-3 after the seventh and held on for the victory.

Until Friday night, the Bees had won the last four games Chris Lamb started. But Lamb (3-3) took the loss in game three after he pitched six innings and allowed six hits, four runs (two earned), and struck out four batters. Seth Frankoff pitched two innings out of the bullpen and allowed one earned run.

Wade Kirkland enjoyed a 2-for-4 night with a home run and two RBIs. Max Muncy went 2-for-4 with an RBI and Bobby Crocker went 1-for-2 with a double and two walks. John Wooten earned his first hit with the Bees when he hit a triple to center field to lead off the fourth inning, but the Bees went 1-for-6 with runners in scoring position and didn't not bring Wooten around to score. The Bees also struck out nine times and lead the Midwest League with 284 strikeouts in August.

The Bees hope a change of scenery will cure the offense. Drew Granier (11-9) will start game one of the final home stand of the season. First pitch of game one against the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. CT. For more information on Bees baseball call (319) 754-5705 or visit www.gobees.com.

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Midwest League Stories from September 1, 2012


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