Snappers Hold Off Bees, 6-5
BELOIT, WI - Ryan Delgado went three-for-four, drove in a run and scored a run as the Beloit Snappers dropped the Burlington Bees, 6-5, in Midwest League action with a crowd of 1,244 on hand on Thursday night at Pohlman Field.
After losing the series opener, the Snappers take game two to move to 76-60 (33-33 in the second half). Burlington slides to 53-78 (27-39 in the second half).
The game's first scoring opportunity came in the bottom of the third when Beloit's Aaron Shipman walked and Christopher Bostick singled to begin the frame. A walk two batters later loaded the bases and brought up Renato Nunez. Nunez hit a deep fly to center that was misplayed by Chevy Clarke into an error and two runs came in on the play. Ryan Delgado (3-4, RBI, run) then grounded a single through the middle for a 3-0 lead against Pat Lowery (4-10).
The Bees responded in the top of the fourth against Derek DeYoung (8-5) when Julio Concepcion (2-3, 2 RBIs, run) singled in Zach Wright, who'd doubled. Two innings later, Burlington crept closer, as Concepcion knocked in his second run of the night with a sacrifice fly. That was all DeYoung allowed, though, as he held the opposition to just two runs (one earned) in six innings.
In the bottom of the sixth, the Snappers fought back and extended their lead to four. Two singles began things and Dayton Alexander (2-4, RBI, run, 2 SBs) followed with a third straight knock for an RBI. When Alexander then stole second, an error on the play allowed Brett Vertigan to race home from third. Alexander then swiped third and was able to touch home on a Bostick fielder's choice.
Despite facing a large deficit, the Bees refused to go away. They got a run in the seventh on a Wade Hinkle sacrifice fly. In the eighth, they slashed Beloit's lead to one when Wendell Soto came through with two-run single. Burlington was unable to muster up one more run to tie the game, though. Austin House didn't allow a run over the final one and two-thirds innings for his ninth save.
Friday night will mark the final regular season home game for the Beloit Snappers in 2013. The night's pitching match-up is RHP Kyle Finnegan (1-0, 3.60 ERA) for the Snappers and LHP Tyler DeLoach (5-5, 3.44 ERA) for the Bees. The first pitch time is 7:00pm. On Fan Appreciation Night, the Snappers will treat their fans to giveaways all night long as the organization takes the time to say thank you to all those who've supported the team this year. Welder's Supply will close out the regular season with postgame fireworks.