Whitten's bat not enough in Bees' loss

(Burlington-IA)- Fran Whitten drove in two runs but the Burlington Bees lost the series finale with the Quad Cities River Bandits by the score of 4-2 on Monday night at Community Field.

Jason Martin led off the game with a single and moved all the way to third on a Jamie Ritchie double. With runners at second and third and no outs, Middleton struck out Mott Hyde and got Jacob Nottingham to groundout, holding the runners at second and third. Middleton then struckout Ryan Bottger to escape the jam unharmed. 

Jason Martin collected his second lead off single of the game, slicing a base hit to left to start the third. The next hitter, Jamie Ritchie singled and then advanced on a walk, loading the bases. Jacob Nottingham then hit into a double play on a ground ball to second, scoring Martin, putting the River Bandits on top 1-0.

With one out in the top of the fourth inning, Kristian Trompiz launched a solo homer run, his fourth of the season, extending the River Bandits' lead to 2-0. Later in the inning, Bobby Boyd struck out swinging but reached on a wild pitch and then moved to second on a Thomas Lindauer single. A passed ball moved the runners to second and third. Jason Martin added another run for Quad Cities with a sacrifice fly to left, scoring Boyd, pushing the River Bandits' lead to 3-0.

Caleb Adams got the Bees' offense started in the fifth with a one out single and moved to second on a Wade Wass groundout. Fran Whitten smacked a double to left center, scoring Adams, cutting Quad Cities' lead to 3-1.

Kristian Trompiz continued his hot hitting, dumping a single in to right field to start the top of the sixth inning. With two outs and Trompiz at second, Jason Martin grounded a single to center field, scoring Trompiz making the score, 4-1 in favor of the River Bandits.

River Bandits' reliever, Christian Powell came on from the bullpen and struck out the first two hitters he faced in the bottom of the seventh. With two outs and the bases empty, Fran Whitten smashed a solo home run to right field, his first of the season, cutting the deficit to 4-2.

Christian Powell (1) shut down the Bees' bats in the final two innings, earning the save, helping the River Bandits' hang on for the 4-2 win. Akeem Bostick (2-1) threw six innings, allowing just one run on nine hits, picking up the win. Bees' starter, Keynan Middleton (2-3) was charged with the loss.

The Bees hit the road to start a six game road trip, starting Wednesday night in Lansing, Michigan against the Lansing Lugnuts at 5:30 central time. Austin Robichaux makes the start for the Bees against Shane Dawson for Lansing.