Wisconsin Timber Rattlers at Burlington Bees
April 14th, 2004
| Wisconsin |
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2 |
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| Burlington |
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E-Keim 2, Atencio, LOB WIS-5, BUR-7, 2B-Balentien, Navarro, Kaaihue, SACB-Collins, SB-Balentien
WP-Oldham 2, HBP-Sevilla (Oldham), BK-Oldham, SO-Collins
T-2:26, A-415
Burlington Hawk Eye
by Susan Denk
On paper, the Burlington Bees have plenty of talent on this season's roster. On the field, that talent has yet to show.
The Bees committed three errors, two leading to the deciding run in a 1-0 Class A Midwest League loss to the Wiscosnin Timber Rattlers, who were winless when they began this series Monday and are now 2-4.
Second baseman Adam Keim committed two of those errors, on a dropped ball on a routine pop up that plated Oswaldo Navarro, who had doubled off of Greg Atencio, moved to third when Atencio's pickoff attempt went into centerfield.
In their six games this season the Bees have committed 11 errorrs after being the second best fielding team in the league last season with a .971 fielding percentage.
The costly miscues have baffled manager Jim Gabella.
"It's frustrating when you have a good group of guys who work hard," said Gabella. "They're not playing the way they're capable of playing. They all have the tools and the talent or they wouldn't be sitting down in the clubhouse and they're not using that talent in the game."
"They have to start learning that working hard like they do and playing hard, that's great and we need to start taking the things we're working on in practice and they need to start taking them into the game and start exucting and we haven't done that. We haven't done it one time this year."
The Burlington bats have faltered so far as well. Wednesday night the Bees (1-5) managed just four hits and struck out five times. They missed an opportunity to score in the third inning putting men on first and second with one out. They moved to second and third on a two out balk but could not plate the runs. In the fifth, runners stood on first and third with one out but neither got home as a double play ended the inning.
Of the five losses the Bees have suffered, only the season opener against Kane County was not close, Burlington lost 10-2.
The other games were all decided by three runs or fewer. That is thanks to outstanding pitching performances, including a no hitter by Dusty Hughes and Jake Mullis, Monday. Wednesday, Atencio gave up two hits, walked two and struck out eight in six innings. John Gragg finished with three hitless innings while walking two and striking out two.
"Pitching has been out strength," Gabella said, "We've played six games and we've been in five of them. We just haven't done the things it takes to win games. They need to start learning how to take the stuff they do well, they need to start taking it into games. Once they do that, we'll be ok. I can't complain they play hard, they work as hard as any team i've ever had. It's just frustrating when they're not doing the things they're capable of doing."
Bryan Graham continued his hitting streak to start the season. The outfielder has tallied a hit in each of the first six games. Angel Sanchez, who had Wednesday night off, has hit safely in five straight.
How They Scored
Wisconsin 6th
Navarro doubled to left center. Womack flied to left, Navarro advanced to third on throwing error by pitcher Jones, reached on a dropped fly by the second baseman. Navarro scored. Dutton grounded out to third, Jones advanced to second. Collins struck out looking.