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04/23/2007 11:41 PM ET
Back-to-Back Homers Not Enough for Bees
Morales May be Headed to DL
By Randy Wehofer / Burlington Bees
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 Angelo Morales came out of Monday's game after just one inning with a sore shoulder and may land on the Disabled List. (John Larson)
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Dayton, OH (April 23, 2007) - Kurt Mertins and Jase Turner hit back-to-back home runs in the top of the fourth inning, but it wasn't enough as the Burlington Bees (9-7) fell 3-2 to the Dayton Dragons (12-2) at Fifth Third Field tonight. The Dragons now lead this series 2-1 and the Bees are 2-5 on this road trip with just one game left.
The Bees got worse news than a one-run loss tonight. Starter Angelo Morales, 3-0 to start the year, retired the Dragons in order in the bottom of the first inning, but had to come out of the game after just one inning because of a sore right shoulder. Brent Fisher took over in the bottom of the second and the Dragons greeted him with three straight hits. Juan Francisco doubled followed by singles from Denis Phipps and Logan Parker to bring in one run. A flyout to center moved Phipps to third and the Dragons got their second run when Parker stole second and Matt Morizio's throw went into centerfield for an error allowing Phipps to jog in. Fisher would strikeout the next two batters to get out of the inning and make the second run unearned.
The Bees came back in the top of the fourth against Dragons' starter Rafael Gonzalez when Mertins and Turner connected on their long balls. It was Mertins' first of the season and Turner's second. The runs were also the first earned runs allowed by Gonzalez all year.
The Dragons wasted no time responding as Phipps hit the first pitch from Fisher in the bottom of the fourth over the wall in left for his first home run of the year and put the Dragons back on top 3-2. Fisher (0-1) would work a total of 4.1 innings and struck out seven, but got the loss for his first decision of the year as Phipps' homer turned into the deciding run. Aaron Hartsock finished the final 2.2 innings in relief and allowed one hit while striking out one.
Gonzalez (3-0) worked through 6.1 innings for the win. Lefty Pedro Viola was perfect through two innings and struck out three before turning the ball over to Marcos Mateo with one out and nobody on in the ninth. Marc Maddox greeted Mateo with a base hit to right to get the tying run on base and extend his hitting streak to eight, but Mateo got a flyout and struck out pinch-hitter Brady Everett to end the game for his second save. In the Bees' seven losses this season, the team has had the tying run on base in their final at-bat six times.
The Bees and Dragons will wrap up this series tomorrow night with RH Jason Godin making his Bees' debut on the mound against LH Travis Webb (1-0, 2.89) for the Dragons. The game will start at 6:00 Central time and will be broadcast live on KBUR AM 1490 and KBKB AM 1360 with the pre-game show starting at 5:40.
This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.
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