Bees Blanked by Kernels, 8-0

(Burlington, IA) - The Burlington Bees (52-70) dropped the series finale of a four game series with the Cedar Rapids Kernels (64-59), 8-0, on Thursday night at Community Field. 

The Kernels took the lead in the first inning on Thursday night. With one out, Travis Blankenhorn singled to center and then sole second base. Aaron Whitefield then gave the Kernels the lead by pulling a double down the left field line, scoring Blankenhorn. After Whitefield stole third base, Lewin Diaz singled to right, pushing the Kernels' lead to 2-0.
Cedar Rapids put together another two-run inning in the top of the fourth inning. Lewin Diaz started the inning with a double and then moved to third on an error, allowing Jimmy Kerrigan to reach. Shane Carrier then upped the Kernels' lead to 3-0 with a double to left. The inning was capped off with a RBI triple from Trey Cabbage, extending the Kernels' lead to 4-0. 
The Kernels offense continued to score runs as they upped their lead in the fifth on an Aaron Whitefield RBI double, his second of the game. Cedar Rapids went on to score three more runs in the sixth inning thanks to RBI singles from Royce Lewis, Travis Blankenhorn and Whitefield, extending the lead to 8-0. 
Kernels' reliever Evan Sanders (2-4) earned the win while Bees' starter, Chris Rodriguez (0-2) was charged with the loss. 
The Bees will hit the road to start a four game series against the Kane County Cougars on Friday at 6:30 p.m. from Northwestern Medicine Field in Geneve, Illinois. Erik Manoah makes the start for the Bees against Sam McWilliams for the Cougars. Listen to the Bees with the voice of the Burlington Bees, Michael Broskowski on Fox Sports 104.5 and 1360 and online at gobees.com and foxsportsiowa.com as well as on the MiLB First Pitch app.