Bees' Season Ends with Shutout Loss

GRAND CHUTE, Wisc. - The Burlington Bees (67-72, 1-2) suffered back-to-back shutout losses to the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (78-61, 2-1) and lost the final game of the season 3-to-0. Wisconsin bounced the Bees out of the 2012 Midwest League Playoffs with another complete game shutout victory from its starter.

After an hour-long rain delay, Aaron Shipman led off the decisive game three with a double down the left field line. But an early play showed the ball simply wouldn't bounce the Bees' way in game three. With two men on and no outs, Addison Russell hit a ground ball to the short stop Yadiel Rivera. Rivera booted the ball to his left, but the second baseman was able to swiftly grab the ball, step on second and fire to first for a rally killing double play. Shipman stood at third base when the top of the first ended.

As was the case the majority of the second half of the season, Drew Granier did not receive much run support in game three. In fact, the right-hander didn't receive a single run from his offense - an offense that only averaged 2.9 runs per game for Granier in the second half.

Granier still grinded through three innings and held the Timber Rattlers hitless one out into the fourth. Unfortunately the first two hits Granier allowed were back-to-back home runs from Ben McMahan and Nick Ramirez. The Timber Rattler took a 2-to-0 lead after the fourth.

With two outs and two men in scoring position in the fifth inning, Granier induced a ground ball that Addison Russell mishandled. A run scored on the shortstop's error and the Bees trailed 3-to-0.

Granier (0-1) pitched six innings, allowed only three hits, three runs (two earned), and one walk. The All-Star right-hander also had six strikeouts in the loss. Granier did not receive a win in his last eight starts of the season. He only allowed a total of 17 earned runs in those games.

Wisconsin's starter David Goforth (1-0) only allowed four hits and two walks in his complete game shutout victory. Shipman, Max Muncy, John Wooten, and John Nester earned knocks, while Royce Consigli and Shipman enjoyed walks. The Bees only had one extra-base hit and went 0-for-3 with runners in scoring position.

The Bees finished the second half with a 35-35 record, which earned them a spot in the playoffs as a Wild Card team. The club won game one of the first round, but lost the final two games in Wisconsin. All three games featured shutouts.

Excluding the playoffs, the A's and the Bees finished 140-136 through the first two years of a young marriage.

For more information on Bees baseball call (319) 754-5705 or visit www.gobees.com.