|
06/28/2007 12:19 AM ET
Clutch Hits Help Bees Clip Cougars
By Randy Wehofer / Burlington Bees
|
|
 Ryan DiPietro posted a quality start (6IP, 3ER) and earned a win to even his record at 4-4 on Wednesday night at Kane County. (John Larson)
ADVERTISEMENT
|
Geneva, IL (June 27, 2007) - The Burlington Bees (5-2, 35-41) scored seven runs with two outs in a 9-3 victory over the Kane County Cougars (2-5, 25-51) at Elfstrom Stadium tonight. Michael Thompson and Brady Everett delivered their two-out hits with the bases loaded and Derrick Robinson scored three runs and had the game-wining RBI in the seventh. The Bees lead this series 2-1 and lead the season series 8-3.
The Bees got the scoring started in the top of the first inning. With one out, Joe Dickerson tripled to right-center and scored on a base hit by Jeff Bianchi. The triple was Dickerson's first of the season. The Cougars answered in the bottom of the second inning and tied the game on a solo home run by Haas Pratt. The Bees went back on top in the third. With Robinson at third and two outs, Cougars' starter Henry Rodriguez walked Bianchi and Everett to load the bases before Thompson who ripped a base hit to left for 2 RBI and a 3-1 Bees' lead. Rodriguez would retire the next ten batters that he faced and came out after six.
Bees' starter Ryan DiPietro held the Cougars in check until the sixth. With one out, Greg Dowling lifted a solo home run to right-center to cut the Bees' lead to one and two batters later, Pratt lined a ball off the foul pole in left for his second home run of the game that tied the game at three. Pratt also had two home runs in game one of this series and now has four of his eight home runs on the year in this series.
Inoel Deaza took over on the mound for the Cougars in the top of the seventh and walked Felix Peralta to start the inning. Peralta was still at first with two outs when Robinson worked a full count against Deaza. With Peralta running, Robinson drove in a double to the wall in left-center field and Peralta raced all the way around to score and put the Bees back on top at 4-3. Dickerson followed with a base hit to right to score Robinson as well for a 5-3 lead. Dickerson is now 5-5 with a walk and has been hit by a pitch in his last seven plate appearances with runners in scoring position and two outs. The Bees broke the game open in the ninth. Peralta led off with a hustle double and after falling behind in the count, Deaza (0-6) intentionally walked Jase Turner. Scott Moore took over in relief and Jesus Soto moved the runners to second and third with a sacrifice bunt. Moore then walked Robinson intentionally to load the bases and Dickerson unintentionally to force in a run. After Bianchi popped out, Everett cleared the bases with a triple to the wall in right-center for the final 9-3 margin.
DiPietro (4-4) got the win thanks to the two runs in the top of the seventh inning. Aaron Hartsock finished the final three innings to earn his second save of the season. His first save also came against the Cougars back on Opening Day at Community Field. Hartsock allowed a hit and two walks in the eighth, but stranded the bases loaded.
The Bees and Cougars will complete this series tomorrow night at 6:30 at Elfstrom Stadium. RH Harold Mozingo (6-6, 4.44) will start for the Bees against LH James Heuser (6-2, 2.90) for the Cougars. 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.
| 
