River Bandits Drop Opener in Burlington 28-7

(Rich Guill)

5:25 PM EDT

The River Bandits enjoyed a quick start on Friday morning at Community Field, but that start was rendered moot when Burlington put up at least five runs in four different innings on the way to a 28-7 series-opening victory. The game was played in front of 2,246 fans on Education Day in Burlington.
The River Bandits jumped in front just two batters into the game. Corey Julks led off against Bees starter Jeremy Beasley with a base hit. Julks then stole second and advanced to third when the throw from catcher Harrison Wenson sailed into center field. He scored moments later on a wild pitch to make it 1-0.

Burlington bounced back in a huge way in the bottom of the inning against River Bandits starter Cesar Rosado. After Rosado retired the leadoff hitter on a groundball, he hit Jo Adell with a pitch and walked Brandon Marsh. After a Julio Garcia groundout, Rosado walked Torii Hunter Jr. Jr. and Harrison Wenson in back-to-back at bats to force in the tying run. Rosado was removed after the last walk. He lasted 0.2 innings and allowed four runs on no hits and three walks.

Cole Watts came out of the bullpen and surrendered a two-RBI single to Spencer Griffin, a run-scoring infield single to Gleyvin Pineda, and another two-run single to Adell before the inning ended with the score 8-1 in favor of Burlington. Due to an error in the inning, four of the runs were unearned.
Burlington climbed to a 10-1 lead after scoring two more in the second inning. The River Bandits clawed back within seven after Marcos Almonte and Cody Bohanek each drove in a run in the third, but then the Bees blew the game wide open.
They scored three more runs in the fourth and five runs in the fifth, sixth, and eighth innings to expand the lead to 28-3. The River Bandits used an RBI triple by Julks and a three-run home run by Jake Adams in the ninth to reach the final difference of 28-7.
Wenson hit a solo home run in the fourth, while both Adell and Marsh launched grand slams in the fifth and eighth innings respectively for the Bees.
All nine hitters in the Burlington starting lineup tallied at least one hit. Pineda led all hitters with five base knocks. Spencer Griffin, David McKinnon, and Adell each added four. Adell (8) and Marsh (7) combined to drive in 15 of the 28 Bees runs.
The Bandits used six pitchers in the contest, all of whom allowed at least three runs, except for Robert Corniel who recorded the final three outs.
The River Bandits (3-7) play a twin bill against the Burlington Bees (5-5) at Community Field in Saturday beginning at 3:00 p.m. RHP Tyler Ivey (0-1, 2.00) will take the ball in game one and RHP Peter Solomon (0-1, 0.00) will follow in the nightcap. Burlington will start RHP's Simon Mathews and Mitchell Traver.
All River Bandits games are broadcast on 1170 K-BOB and TuneIn Radio. Home games are also available with video on MiLB.TV.