Bees Lose Third Straight, Drop Opener

(Clinton, IA) - The Burlington Bees (65-70) lost their third straight game, losing in the bottom of the ninth inning to the Clinton LumberKings (83-52), 4-3, on Wednesday night at Ashford University Field.

Clinton jumped on Bees' starter Jaime Barria, scoring three runs in the first inning. Chris Mariscal and Ricky Eusebio started the inning with back-to-back singles. Dalton Kelly put Clinton on the board with a single to left, scoring Mariscal. Logan Taylor made it a 2-0 game with a single, scoring Eusebio, upping the LumberKings' lead to 2-0. With one out, Gus Craig grounded out, scoring Kelly, extending the lead to 3-0.

Connor Lillis-White and Ronnie Glenn combined to work seven scoreless innings, keeping the Bees in the game. Burlington got on the board in the third inning. With one out, Tanner Lubach reached on an error and then moved to second on a wild pitch. Troy Montgomery singled to center, putting runners at the corners. Jahmai Jones grounded out, scoring Lubach, cutting Clinton's lead to 3-1.

Trailing by two runs in the ninth inning, Jahmai Jones led off the inning with an infield single. Matt Thaiss launched a two run home run to right field, tying the game at three.

Bees' reliever Andrew Vinson got the first batter of the inning to ground out. Ricky Eusebio then singled to left. Dalton Kelly followed with a single to right, putting runners at first and second. Logan Taylor singled to left, scoring Eusebio, to win the game, 4-3.

Joey Strain (7-2) earned the win while Andrew Vinson (0-3) was charged with the loss. The Bees and the LumberKings continue the series on Thursday night, in Clinton, at 6:30. Jesus Castillo makes the start for the Bees against Pedro Vasquez