|
06/15/2007 1:03 AM ET
Bees Complete Sweep of Chiefs
By Randy Wehofer / Burlington Bees
|
|
 Chris Hayes finished the final 1.2 innings tonight and earned a save in back-to-back games to finish this series. He now leads the team with four. (John Larson)
ADVERTISEMENT
|
Peoria, IL (June 14, 2007) - The Burlington Bees (29-37) completed their first sweep of a four-game series this season with an 8-6 victory over the Peoria Chiefs (30-36) at O'Brien Field tonight. The Bees have now won six straight games against the Chiefs and lead the season series 6-2.
The game started with a flurry of offense on both sides. In the top of the first, Derrick Robinson and Jeff Bianchi both singled and a double steal had them at second and third with one out. Chiefs' starter Robert Hernandez got Brady Everett to pop-up for the second out, but Joe Dickerson delivered with a two-out single to right-center to bring in the runners for a 2-0 lead. Bees' starter Harold Mozingo set the Chiefs down in order in the first, but in the second, he walked Jim Adduci in front of Yusuf Carter who lined a two-run homer just inside the pole down the left field line to tie the game.
The Bees took the lead back in the third without a hit. Kurt Mertins drew a leadoff walk, stole second, went to third on a wild pitch, and scored on a groundout by Everett. In the bottom of the inning, Dylan Johnston led off with a double. With one out, Jonathon Mota singled to center and went to second when Johnston stopped at third, but the throw went through to the plate. Josh Lansford followed with a single to center that drove in two and gave the Chiefs a 4-3 lead.
In the top of the fourth, Hernandez hit Michael Thompson with a pitch and Matt Morizio doubled to put runners on second and third with no outs. Hernandez struck out the next two batters, but couldn't escape. Robinson lined a ball into right-center field that split the outfielders and rolled to the wall for a two-run triple and the Bees were back on top at 5-4. Mertins followed with a base hit that brought in Robinson and extended the lead to 6-4. The Chiefs came right back in the bottom of the inning as Carter belted his second two-run homer of the game and tied the game at six.
Donnie Walters took over for Hernandez in the fifth and walked Everett to start the inning. With one out, Everett went to third on a base hit by Thompson and scored on a sacrifice fly by Morizio and the Bees were in the lead for good at 7-6. Walters (0-1) would work two innings and got the loss. Jeremy Papelbon finished the final three innings and allowed one unearned run in the ninth. With two outs, Everett and Dickerson lined singles and Thompson reached on an error by Johnston at shortstop to load the bases. Papelbon then walked Morizio on four pitches to force in the Bees' final run.
Mozingo (6-5) put up zeroes in the fifth and sixth innings and recorded his fourth straight win over his last five starts. He is the first Bees' pitcher to win four consecutive decisions this year. Jim Wladyka pitched an inning and a third in relief, but had to come out in the eighth after injuring his left foot fielding a bunt. Chris Hayes took over and threw one pitch and got Lansford to hit into a double play to end the eighth. In the ninth, Hayes gave up a single to Adduci but got Carter to hit into a double play to end the game and earned his team-leading fourth save of the season.
The Bees will travel to Kane County tomorrow night to start a three-game series against the Cougars to finish the first half. Tomorrow's game is at 6:30 with RH Josh Cribb (1-5, 6.55) getting the start for the Bees. The game will be broadcast live on KBUR AM 1490 and KBKB AM 1360 with the pre-game show starting at 6:10.
This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.
| 
