MWL1 Burlington Bees

Duarte Delivers in the Clutch

Published on May 26, 2006 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Burlington Bees News Release


Beloit, WI (May 25, 2006) - With the bases loaded and two outs in the top of the eighth inning, Jose Duarte hit an 0-2 pitch up the middle for a two-run single to erase a 2-1 deficit and help the Burlington Bees (22-22) to a 4-2 win over the Beloit Snappers (22-23) at Pohlman Field tonight. The Bees have won four of five on this road trip and ten of their last eleven while the Snappers have lost five straight. With the win, the Bees moved past the Snappers into third place in the Midwest League's Western Division and are back at .500 for the first time since April 20th when the team was 7-7.

The game got underway 36 minutes late because of a rain delay and both offenses took awhile to get going. Snappers' starter Eddie Morlan walked three, hit a batter, and threw a wild pitch, but kept the Bees scoreless through the first four innings. Bees' starter Matt Kniginyzky allowed two hits and a walk and struck out four through the fourth.

The scoring started in the top of the fifth. Ethien Santana dragged a bunt up the first base line for a hit and when Morlan's throw sailed down the right field line, Santana advanced to second. Valentino Arce followed with a ground ball that went through the legs of Erik Lis at first for a second error that allowed Santana to score. Chris McConnell followed with a single and a wild pitch moved the runners to second and third, but Morlan struck out the next three batters to get out of the jam. In the bottom of the fifth inning, Kniginyzky walked Caleb Moore, Steve Tolleson singled, and Dwayne White's sacrifice bunt moved the runners to second and third. Kniginyzky struck out Eli Tintor for the second out, but Edward Ovalle fisted a two-out single to short left-center to drive in the runners and give the Snappers a 2-1 lead.

Yohan Pino replaced Morlan in the sixth and pitched two scoreless innings and struck out Mario Lisson to start the eighth, but came out after hitting Miguel Vega with a pitch. LH Juan Lugo took over, walked JP Lowen, and gave up a bloop single to Brady Everett that loaded the bases. Lugo struck out pinch-hitter Jeremy Jirschele for the second out and then gave the ball to Frank Mata to face Duarte. After two quick strikes, Duarte fouled off one pitch before delivering the hit. Duarte also drove in a run with a two-out hit on Tuesday and is now 6-12 with 5 RBI with runners in scoring position and two-outs. Santana followed by flairing a base hit to left that drove in Everett to complete the three-run rally. Mata is now 0-2 in save chances and Lugo (1-3) was charged with the loss.

Kniginyzky (5-2) worked through seven complete innings and set a new career-high for strikeouts with nine. It's also the most strikeouts in a game by a Bees' pitcher this season. Kniginyzky is tied for third in the Midwest League in wins and collected his first win on the road this year. Gilbert De La Vara finished the final two innings and struck out three more batters to earn his sixth save of the season. De La Vara has not allowed a run in 19.1 innings over his last ten appearances.

The Bees and Snappers play game two of this series tomorrow night at 6:30 at Pohlman Field. RH Carlos Rosa (3-3, 2.40) will start for the Bees against RH Oswaldo Sosa (3-3, 2.86) for Beloit. The game will be broadcast live on KBUR AM 1490 and KBKB AM 1360 with the pre-game show starting at 6:10.

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Midwest League Stories from May 26, 2006


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