Oliveros Delivers a Striking Performance to Beat Rays
The Bees got on the board first against Rays starter Wade Davis (5-7). Josh Johnson drew a one-out walk in the top of the first inning, stole second, and scored on a two-out single by Jeff Howell. Howell has not hit safely in six straight games. In the second, Brady Everett drew a leadoff walk and scored from first when Jeremy Jirschele doubled over the head of Garrett Groce in centerfield for a 2-0 lead. Jirschele went to third on a single by Chris McConnell and scored as Ethien Santana reached on a fielder's choice while McConnell was forced out at second. Davis would allow four hits, four walks, hit two batters, and strike out four in 5.2 innings and get the loss. Drew Bigda worked an inning and a third of scoreless relief and Jeff Kamrath pitched a scoreless eighth to finish the game on the mound for the Rays.
Meanwhile Oliveros was nearly untouchable for the Bees. Through six innings, he allowed just two hits, no runs, and struck out six. In the top of the seventh, the Rays had runners on first and second with two outs when Matt Devins singled to center to drive in Rhyne Hughes and get the Rays on the board. After the hit, Oliveros came out in favor of Kraig Schambough who got Jason St. Clair to fly out on the first pitch to end the inning.
In the top of the eighth, Schambough allowed a hit and two walks to load the bases with no outs. Cesar Suarez scored as Groce bounced into a 4-6-3 double play to get the Rays to within one at 3-2, but Schambough got Hughes to bounce out to second to end the inning and preserve the lead. Schambough came back out for the ninth and earned his eighth save by finishing the ballgame.
The Bees have a chance to complete a sweep of this series tomorrow night at 7:00 at Community Field. RH Chris Nicoll (3-5, 2.66) will start for the Bees against LH Mike Wlodarczyk (6-6, 3.02) of the Rays. The Bees have only swept one four-game series so far this season, beating Lansing May 16-19 here at Community Field. The gates will open at 7:00 for Dollar Monday sponsored by Miller Lite. General admission tickets, hot dogs, pizza, popcorn, and cans of Pepsi products are all just one dollar and cans of Miller products are 2-for-$3 throughout the game. Tomorrow is also Cubs vs. Cardinals Rivalry Night. Cardinals fans can register to win tickets to see the Cardinals at the "new" Busch Stadium this summer courtesy of Golden Eagle Distributing. Cubs fans can register to win a DVD of the This Old Cub documentary autographed by Ron Santo and a Ron Santo bat sponsored by KCPS AM 1150 in Burlington. The game will be broadcast live on KBUR AM 1490 and KBKB AM 1360 with the pre-game show starting at 6:40.