The Bees continue their three-game series with Cedar Rapids tonight and Burlington is on a roll. The Bees have allowed just three runs over the last three games with tremendous starting pitching from RHP Jose Macias, (7 IP, 0 ER, 5H on August 14 in Beloit); RHP Blake Hassebrock, (5 IP, 0ER, 6H on August 15 in Beloit); and RHP Jonathan Joseph, (7 IP, 0ER, 5H last night).

You hope the Bees are turning the corner with the starting pitching but with such a small sample size, it’s too early to tell. The Bees will look to make another step towards 500 as they look for their fourth straight win tonight.

 

What a week it’s been for guys just coming off the Disabled List. Today Bees OF Jose Crisotomo was named “Midwest League Player of the Week” for the week of August 8-14. He came off the Disabled List on August 9 and immediately went 12-for-24 with two home runs and 10 RBIs in six games played. He hit home runs on August 10 and 11^th in Quad Cities and recorded four RBIs in each of those two games. Crisotomo logged single-game career highs for hits (4) and RBIs (4) in the game on August 11.

OF Jose Rivero was activated off the Disabled List on August 11 and immediately produced. He went 1-for-4 that night at Quad Cities with two RBIs and immediately produced two RBIs the next night. He is 4-for-15 in four games since coming off the Disabled List. Prior to coming off the Disabled List, Rivero’s last game action was on July 10 against Kane County.

 

ABOUT TODAY’S MATCH-UP: The Burlington Bees and Beloit Snappers continue their three-game series here in Beloit today. The two teams have matched up 13 out of 18 times in 2011.

ABOUT LAST NIGHT: The Beloit Snappers (23-25) scored an unearned run in the fifth inning to beat the Burlington Bees (17-31) by a score of 3-1 before 1,668 fans at Pohlman Field on Saturday night. The Bees scored a single run in the fourth inning against Beloit RHP Pedro Guerra (1-1). DH Beau Taylor (0-3) walked and moved to third base on a double by CF Jose Rivero (1-4). SS Yordy Cabrera (0-3) hit a sacrifice fly to center field to score Taylor for a 1-0 lead. The Snappers scored a run in the fourth inning against Burlington RHP Josh Bowman (7-5). After retiring the first nine hitters in a row, CF Wong-Wei Lin (1-4) led off the fourth inning with a single against Bowman and went to second base on a groundout by SS Adam Bryant (0-4).  1B Lance Ray (1-3) singled Lin home for a 1-1 tied score. In the fifth inning Beloit 2B Tyler Grimes (0-2) walked with one out and stole second base. The throw from C John Nester sailed into center field and was misplayed by CF Jose Rivero. Grimes scored for a 2-1 lead. The Snappers scored an insurance run in the eighth inning for a 3-1 lead. LF Derek McCallum (0-1) walked and went to second base on a sacrifice bunt by C Jhonatan Arias (0-0). 3B Andrew Leer (0-3) hit a ground ball that SS Yordy Cabrera played and threw wide of third base. The fielder’s choice put runners at first and third base with just one out for Lin, who hit an RBI groundout to score McCallum for a 3-1 lead. Bowman pitched five innings and allowed one earned run on two hits for the “tough-luck” loss.

TODAY’S PITCHING MATCH-UP

(BURLINGTON): RHP Jose Macias gets the ball for the Burlington Bees this afternoon. He most recently took the mound on August 9 against Clinton at home. He allowed three earned runs on six hits over six innings pitched in a no decision. He is 4-3 with a 5.05 ERA.

(BELOIT): RHP A.J. Achter gets the start for the Beloit Snappers this afternoon. He last pitched against the Quad Cities River Bandits on August 9. He allowed five earned runs on nine hits over three innings pitched. He is 3-5 with a 4.61 ERA in 2011.

 

In baseball, it’s important to take advantage of the opportunities when they are presented to you. The Burlington Bees scored three unearned runs in the eighth inning last night because of two fielding errors by the Quad Cities River Bandits en route to a 5-2 win. LF Jose Rivero had two RBIs, including an RBI sacrifice fly in the eighth inning. He has recorded three RBIs over the last two games since being activated from the Disabled List.

RHP Zack Thornton pitched three innings of relief to pick up the win. It is the eighth time in 2011 that he has pitched three or more innings in a single outing. OF Jose Crisotomo continued his hot hitting, going 1-4 with an RBI single in the second inning. He has recorded 10 RBIs over the last four games.

OF Jose Crisotomo continued his torrid hitting last night. He is 8-14 since being activated off the Disabled List before Tuesday’s game against Clinton. He recorded four RBIs on both Wednesday and Thursday and set new career highs with three and four hits respectively over the last few nights. How often do you see a guy set two new career highs in as many nights?

That’s what we saw in Quad Cities with Crisotomo getting three and four hits respectively on both Wednesday and Thursday night.

 

The Bees look to get back on track as they play game two of their three-game series here in Quad Cities tonight. The Bees made a roster move before tonight’s game, activating OF Jose Rivero from the Disabled List and placing OF Douglas Landaeta on the Disabled List.

Last night was notable because of a few milestones for individual Bees players.

OF Jose Crisotomo recorded single game career highs of three hits and four RBIs. He hit a two-run single in the second inning, a solo home run in the seventh inning and an RBI single in the eighth inning. RHP Sean Murphy tied a career high with six strikeouts in his three innings pitched.

RHP Blake Hassebrock pitched two and two-thirds innings in the shortest outing of his season. LHP Max Peterson also issued five walks in his 2.1 innings pitched, the most walks in a single outing in his career.

The Bees showed extraordinary fight over the last two games of the Clinton series. On Monday the Bees tied the game not once, but twice with scores of 1-1 and 2-2 before the LumberKings scored three runs in the eighth inning to earn a 5-2 win.

Last night the Bees fought back from a 3-0 deficit and scored two runs in the fourth inning on a two-run home run by 3B Tony Thompson. The Bees tied the game at 3 in the fifth inning on an RBI single by RF Jose Crisotomo. After the LumberKings pushed across a run in the sixth inning, the Bees tied the game on an opposite-field home run by Josh Whitaker. Thompson and Whitaker have combined for 29 of the 74 home runs hit by the Bees in 2011.

After a start to the second half that no one could expect, the Bees showed the same fight over the last two nights that led to their 45-25 record in the first half. Hopefully that fight can continue over the final 25 games of the season.

 

by Matthew Wheaton
Media Relations Intern

The Burlington Bees (14-29) and Clinton LumberKings (23-20), the Midwest League affiliate of the Seattle Mariners, wrap up their four-game series tonight at 6:30 p.m. at Community Field. It’s “Two-for-Tuesday.” Be sure to look for the coupon good for two-for-one general admission tickets in today’s Hawk Eye newspaper brought to you by 101.7 The Bull. Fans can also bring their package wrapper from KRAFT singles and buy one ticket and get one free. Exclusions do apply.

LHP Roenis Elis (1-0, 0.00) gets his second start of the season for the LumberKings tonight. His last start was on August 4 against the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers in Wisconsin where he allowed one run on five hits in 6.1 innings and was credited with the win. This season he has split time among three Mariners affiliates: Clinton, the Pulaski Mariners in the Appalachian League and the Arizona Rookie League Mariners. Tonight’s start is Elis’ third start of the year between Clinton and Pulaski, and he is facing the Bees for the first time in his professional career. He has come out of the bullpen on three occasions — once in Arizona and twice in Pulaski. The Mariners singed him as a 2011 non-drafted free agent. He is originally from Guantanamo, Cuba.

RHP Jose Macias toes the rubber in his 11th start in a Bees uniform this evening. In his last start on August 4 against the Peoria Chiefs in Peoria, he allowed two runs on nine hits in seven innings of action and earned the win. He started on the hill in four games for the Vermont Lake Monsters in the New York-Penn League and had a record of 2-2. He is 4-3 with a 5.01 ERA as a member of the Bees. Macias’ worst inning as a Bee has been the first where he has an 11.70 ERA and has allowed 15 runs on 19 hits over 10 innings.

YESTERDAY…
The Bees and LumberKings were tied at 2-2 after four innings before the LumberKings pushed three runs across home plate in the top of the eighth inning for a 5-2 win before 1,065 fans at Community Field Monday night. LumberKings 2B Stefen Romero (2-4) hit a solo home run to right field to lead off the top of the second inning to put Clinton up 1-0. In the bottom of the third inning, Bees CF Tyreace House (1-3) hit an infield single and advanced to second base on a throwing error from Romero. A RBI-single to left field from C Beau Taylor (1-4) plated House and tied the game at 1-1. Clinton CF Mike McGee (0-2) drew a lead-off walk in the top of the fourth inning and scored on a RBI single to center field from RF Kalian Sams (1-4) to give Clinton a 2-1 lead. Burlington 1B Josh Whitaker (2-4) led off the bottom of the fourth inning with a single to center field and later scored on a RBI single from LF Royce Consigli (1-3) to knot the game at 2-2. McGee earned a walk in the top of the eighth inning and moved to second base on a single to center field from Romero. A RBI single from DH Mickey Wiswall (2-4) plated McGee. Romero scored from third base on a RBI single by 1B Tim Morris (1-4). Sams reached first base on a fielder’s choice, scoring Wiswall from third base and the LumberKings took a 5-2 lead. Bees RHP Josh Bowman allowed two runs on six hits over five innings of work in a no decision. Bees RHP Daniel Tenholder allowed one hit in two innings on the mound.

BEES BY THE NUMBERS
Tonight’s game will be the 114th game the Bees have played this season, and the 57th game played at Community Field. The Bees won the MWL Western Division in the first half of the season with an overall record of 45-25, which was the best record in the league in the first half. Burlington has struggled to get wins in the second half of the season. The Bees’ 14-29 record is the worst in the MWL in the second half.

As a team the Bees are batting .217 in the last five games and have scored 21 runs, while their opponents have scored 26 runs.

MOVE
OF Jose Crisotomo was activated from the Disabled List right before the game last night. IF A.J.  Kirby-Jones was placed on the Disabled List. Crisotomo gets the start in right field tonight against the LumberKings and will hit out of the eighth hole.

TIME
Last night’s game between the Bees and LumberKings lasted two hours and 42 miunutes. Sunday afternoon’s game was a minute longer (2:43).

by Matthew Wheaton
Media Relations Intern

The Burlington Bees (14-28) and Clinton LumberKings (22-20), the Midwest League affiliate of the Seattle Mariners, play game three of their four-game series tonight at 6:30 p.m. at Community Field. It’s “Dollar Monday,” presented by Miller Lite. Adult general admission tickets are just $2 and senior/student general admission tickets, hot dogs, pizza, popcorn, and cans of Pepsi products are just a dollar. Fans can enjoy 16 oz. cans of Miller Lite and Coors Light for just $3.25 sponsored by Miller Lite and Everything That Rocks KQ92.

LHP Anthony Fernandez (4-3, 3.11) gets his 15th start of the season in a LumberKings uniform today. His last start was on August 3 against the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers in Wisconsin where he allowed one run on six hits in 7.1 innings. This season he has split time between Clinton and the High Desert Mavericks (CAL High A). Tonight’s start is Fernandez’s 21st start of the year between the two clubs. The Mariners signed Fernandez, 21, as a non-drafted free agent on September 29, 2006. He spent last year with the Everett AquaSox (NWL SS-A) and was named the team Pitcher of the Year by the Mariners, as well as to the Northwest League All-Star Team. He ranked third among Seattle farmhands with a 2.59 ERA, allowed three earned runs or less in 12 of 15 starts and one earned run or less in 10 starts. Fernandez has a record of 3-0 on the road to go along with a 2.03 ERA. This will be the fourth time this season that he has faced the Bees. Burlington has a record of 17-14 against left-handed starting pitchers.

RHP Josh Bowman (7-4, 3.64) toes the rubber for the Bees this evening. He leads the Midwest League in innings pitched (128.2). In his last start on August 3 against the Peoria Chiefs in Peoria, he allowed three runs on five hits in five innings of action. Bowman has an overall record of 4-1 in home games and a 3.86 ERA. In night games, he has a 4.01 ERA and is 4-4. He has a 5.40 ERA in one start in the month of August. Typically, Bowman struggles in the fourth inning. He has a 5.06 ERA and has allowed 26 hits in 21.1 innings of work in the fourth inning. When the bases are empty, opponents are batting .250 against him. When runners are on base, opponents have a .238 batting average. When runners are on with two outs, opponents are batting a dismal .165 against Bowman. This will be the fourth time this season that he has faced the LumberKings.

YESTERDAY…
Burlington RHP Nate Long (6-6) allowed two runs on four hits in six innings but the Bees scored only one run and lost to the LumberKings by a score of 4-1 at Community Field Sunday afternoon. Clinton started the scoring in the top of the third inning after CF Mike McGee (1-4) drew a two-out walk. A single to center field from LF Julio Morban (2-3) moved McGee to second base. DH Kevin Rivers (0-2) walked, advancing McGee to third base and Morban to second base. A two-RBI single from 2B Stefen Romero (2-4) gave the LumberKings a 2-0 lead. In the top of the seventh inning, McGee hit a solo home run to right field to make the score 3-0. Morban hit a one-out double to left field and scored on a RBI single from Romero in the top of the ninth inning to put Clinton up 4-0. Burlington 1B Josh Whitaker (0-2) drew a lead-off walk in the bottom of the ninth inning and scored on a single to left field from RF Douglas Landaeta (1-4) to get Burlington within three runs at 4-1.

BEES BY THE NUMBERS
Tonight’s game will be the 113th game the Bees have played this season, and the 56th game played at Community Field. Burlington has a record of 33-22 in home games this season. The Bees had five hits last night against the LumberKings, while Clinton had eight hits. The Bees have a record of 11-34 when out-hit by their opponent.

Bees IF Josh Whitaker sits in second place in the Midwest League for batting with a .316 average. He leads the MWL in slugging percentage (.552). Whitaker has played in 88 games this season, has 14 home runs and 54 RBIs.

The Bees pitching staff walked eight LumberKings last night, which is the most walks allowed in a game by the staff this season. The previous high was six, which was set in Clinton on April 7.

Burlington RHP Nate Long (6-6) set a new career high for most walks in a game (5) last night against Clinton. His previous career high was three, which he set in Kane County on July 10.

TIME
Yesterday afternoon’s game between the Bees and LumberKings lasted 2:41. Saturday night’s game was ten minutes shorter (2:31).

by Matthew Wheaton
Media Relations Intern

The Burlington Bees (14-27) and Clinton LumberKings (21-20), the Midwest League affiliate of the Seattle Mariners, play game two of their four-game series this afternoon at 2:00 p.m. at Community Field. It’s “Louisa Communications Kids Day.” All kids 12 and under get in free and get to run the bases after the game. It’s also “Faith Day” at Community Field. Fans that bring their church bulletin to the box office will receive one dollar off up to four general admission tickets to the game.

RHP Stephen Kohlscheen (1-3, 6.59) gets his second start of the season for Clinton today. He has pitched mainly out of the bullpen for the LumberKings this season. His last start for Clinton was on May 2. This season, he has split time between Clinton and the Everett AquaSox. This afternoon’s start is Kohlscheen’s 10th start of the year between the two clubs. He last pitched on August 4 for the AquaSox, allowing one hit in one inning of work.

Kohlscheen, who stands at 6-foot-6, was drafted out of Norman North (Okla.) High School by the Florida Marlins in the 43rd round of the 2007 MLB Draft, but didn’t sign. He led Norman North to its first state tournament appearance in school history during his junior year. In 2009, he was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 30th round of the MLB Draft out of Cowley (Kan.) College, but elected not to sign. He led the Tigers to the 2009 NJCAA Div. I World Series. The Mariners’ drafted Kohlscheen in the 45th round of the 2010 MLB Draft out of Auburn University. He has a record of 0-2 to go along with an 8.10 ERA in away games, and has a 5.06 ERA in day games.

RHP Nate Long (6-5, 3.27) toes the rubber for the Bees this afternoon. In his last start on August 2 against the Peoria Chiefs in Peoria, he allowed two runs on seven hits in seven innings of action. Long has an overall record of 3-2 in home games, two saves, and a 2.45 ERA. In day games, he has a 14.40 ERA and is 0-1. He has a 2.57 ERA in the month of August. Typically, Long struggles in the second inning. He has a 6.30 ERA and has allowed nine hits in 10 innings of work in the second inning. When the bases are empty, opponents are batting .237 against him. When runners are on base, opponents have a .242 batting average. When runners are on with two outs, opponents are batting a dismal .173 against Long.

YESTERDAY…
The Bees scored six runs over the first three innings to secure an 8-4 win over the Clinton LumberKings before 1,197 fans at Community Field on Saturday night in the opening game of a four-game series. Clinton scored a single run in the top of the first inning against Burlington RHP Jonathan Joseph (3-4). CF Mike McGee (1-4) doubled and scored on a triple by 2B Stefen Romero (1-4) for a 1-0 lead. Burlington scored four runs in the bottom half of the first inning against Clinton LHP Tony Butler (1-2). DH Ryan Pineda (1-4) doubled and LF Royce Consigli (0-3) walked. 1B Josh Whitaker (1-3) singled to load the bases. 3B Tony Thompson (1-3) doubled both Pineda and Consigli across home plate and pushed Whitaker to third base. RF Douglas Landaeta (1-3) lifted a sacrifice fly to left field to score Whitaker. Thompson scored on a throwing error by Butler in an errant pick-off attempt to make it 4-0. 2B Nino Leyja (2-4) hit a solo home run over the left field wall in the bottom of the second inning to make it 5-0. Clinton scored a run in the top of the third inning on a solo home run by LF Julio Morban (3-4) to shave the lead to 5-1. In the bottom of the third inning, Thompson lifted a sacrifice fly to center field to score Whitaker and make it 6-2. The LumberKings scored single runs in the fifth and eighth innings to get the score to 6-4. CF Tyreace House (2-4) added a two-run single in the bottom of the eighth inning to increase the Burlington lead to 8-4. RHP Jonathan Joseph pitched five innings for the win. RHP Blake Treinen tossed two scoreless innings, and RHP Pedro Vidal pitched two scoreless innings for his second save of 2011.

BEES BY THE NUMBERS
This afternoon’s game will be the 112th game the Bees have played this season. Burlington has a record of 13-9 in day games this season. The Bees had eight hits last night against the LumberKings, while Clinton had nine hits. The Bees have a record of 11-33 when out-hit by their opponent. Both the Bees and the LumberKings left four runners on base last night.

OF Royce Consigli, SS Wade Kirkland, and C John Nester are the only Bees that didn’t notch a hit in last night’s 8-4 win over the LumberKings. Consigli is batting .059 in 17 at-bats in his last five games.

IF Nino Leyja hit his second home run of the season last night off of Clinton’s Tony Butler in the bottom of the second inning. Leyja’s last home run was on June 26 in Clinton off of Anthony Fernandez in the top of the second inning. Both of Leyja’s homers have been solo shots. Butler committed three errors in the game, and has four on the year.

RHP Blake Treinen’s line from last night: 2 innings pitched, 0 runs, 0 earned runs, 0 walks, 0 strikeouts, and 0 home runs. Treinen secured his first hold of the season last night.

4-3
The Midland RockHounds, Oakland’s Texas League affiliate, defeated the Corpus Christi Hooks by a score of 4-3 on Friday and Saturday night.

MLB DEBUT
Former Bee Johnny Giavotella was called up to the Kansas City Royals and made his major league debut Friday night at Kauffman Stadium, debuting at second base and going 2-for-3 with a double, an RBI and a run scored against the Detroit Tigers in Detroit’s 4-3 victory. Giavotella hit .299 with four home runs and 26 RBIs in 68 games played with Burlington in 2008. At the time of his promotion, he was hitting .338 with nine home runs and 72 RBIs for the AAA Omaha Storm Chasers.