Loons outslug Bees, 9-8

Bees hit five home runs in loss on Sunday afternoon

June 7, 2015

(Midland-MI)- The Burlington Bees slugged five home runs on Sunday but couldn't hang on, losing to the Great Lakes Loons, 9-8, at Dow Diamond in Midland, Michigan.

Alex Verdugo started the bottom of the first inning with a single and then came in to score, when the next batter, Johan Mieses, homered to left field, putting Great Lakes on top, 2-0.

The Bees went on to bat 10 times in the top of the third inning. Fran Whitten started the inning with a single to right and then scored on a Brandon Gildea home run, his first of the season, tying the game at two. With on out in the frame, Jake Yacinich hit his first homer of the season, a solo shot to left, putting the Bees in front, 3-2. The next hitter, Michael Hermosillo, doubled and then came home on a Natanael Delgado two run home run, also to left field. The inning was later capped off by a Ryan Seiz home run and the Bees led 7-2, after two and half innings.

With two outs in the bottom of the third inning, Johan Mieses doubled and then scored on a double by Michael Ahmed. The double parade continued when Josmer Cordero doubled, scoring Ahmed. The final run of the inning scored on a Bees' error, cutting the lead to 7-5. Great Lakes made it a one run game in the fourth when Kelvin Ramos scored on a wild pitch, making the score 7-6.

Fran Whitten gave the Bees a two run cushion, hitting the Bees' fifth home run of the game, Whitten's second of the season, extending the Bees' lead to 8-6 in the top of the sixth inning.

Michael Ahmed led off the bottom of the eighth inning with a walk and moved to second when Josmer Cordero was hit by a pitch. The Loons cut the deficit to one when Ahmed came home to score on a wild pitch. Ronnie Muck recovered to strike out the next two hitters before Faustino Oguisten singled to left, scoring Cordero and pinch runner, James Allen, giving Great Lakes a 9-8 lead.

With one out in the top of the ninth, Andrew Daniel doubled to left, putting the tying run in scoring position. Loons' reliever Kyle Hooper (4) retired the next two hitters, securing the Loons' 9-8 win. Charles Rossman (1-0) earned the win while Ronnie Muck (2-2) was charged with the loss. The Bees and the Loons wrap up the series Monday night at 6:00 CST. Austin Robichaux starts for the Bees against Kevin Guzman for the Loons.