Snappers' lead fades late as 'pen falters

Burlington 6 Beloit 5 - Friday
WP: Salazar (2-0)
LP: Jordan (2-9)
S: None
Time: 2:41
Attn: 1,455
An early offensive outburst wasn't enough for the Snappers on Friday night, as they watched their lead slip away in the late innings of a 6-5 loss to the Bees. Although the Snappers remain in the running for the second-half wild card spot, they've lost 17 of their past 21 games. The red-hot LumberKings have taken advantage of the recent struggles of Beloit and Peoria, who currently occupies the last playoff spot, creating an interesting three-team race.
The Snappers jumped on Burlington starter Luis Madero in the second inning. J.C. Rodriguez put Beloit on the board with an RBI single, and then Mike Martin- batting in the nine-spot for just the seventh time in 2017- plated two more with a single. Beloit tacked on a run in the third on Eric Marinez's sacrifice fly, and then another in the fourth with a Collin Theroux solo shot.
Snappers starter Kyle Twomey struggled early, serving up RBI knocks to Jonah Todd and Richard Fecteau in the first inning, but settled down and posted a quality start. Twomey ended up allowing just those two hits while walking two and striking out four over six innings.
The bullpen was unable to hold the lead for Twomey, however. Reliever Mitchell Jordan surrendered a two-run double to Brennan Morgan in the seventh, cutting the Bees' deficit to 5-4. Burlington got to Jordan again in the eighth as Julian Leon knotted the game with an RBI double. Two batters later, the Snappers deployed Sam Sheehan in an attempt to escape the jam, but he allowed the eventual game-winning RBI on Brandon Sandoval's single.
Although it looked strange on paper, a start in the nine-hole might have been just Martin needed to bust out of his slump. The Snappers' usual leadoff hitter entered play hitting just .097 over his last ten games, but then went 3-for-3 with two RBIs. Kyle Nowlin and Trace Loehr also contributed multi-hit performances on Friday. 

Box Score:https://www.milb.com/gameday/snappers-vs-bees/2017/08/25/499446?#game_state=final,game_tab=,game=499446
Team Records: Burlington (76-52), Beloit (60-69)
Next Game: Saturday at 6:35 p.m. vs. Burlington Bees at Community Field
Probable Pitchers: Beloit RHP Xavier Altamirano (7-5, 3.30 ERA) vs. Burlington LHP Jose Suarez (3-1, 3.83 ERA)
The Snappers close out the regular season over Labor Day weekend with three games against the Cedar Rapids Kernels. Saturday, September 2 is Fan Appreciation Night with the final fireworks show of the year along with the green alternate jersey auction. Sunday and Monday's games begin at 2 p.m. with closeout food and beverage specials. Tickets for these events at Pohlman Field and all individual game tickets can be found here.