Bees snap Cougars 3-game win streak with 4-3 victory
An eighth inning 3-run home run by the Bees' Ranyelmy Alberto proved the difference in a game the Cougars (25-26) dropped to the visiting Burlington Bees (24-27) by a 4-3 final. Tuesday night's loss snapped a three-game win streak for the Cougars as they fell to 3-2 on the homestand.
The Cougars sprang out to an early 2-0 lead after the second inning as the Cougars had 3 hits and scored their first run on a bases-loaded walk by Jeff Smith. The next batter, Jason Morozowski, had an RBI single against the Bees lefty, Ronnie Glenn (1-4).
The Bees added a run in the third, and the Cougars responded with another tally in the fourth, cashing in with 3 more hits in the inning on the second RBI hit of the day from Morozowski.
Morozowski finished with 3 hits and 2 RBI in his ninth multihit game of the season.
Alex Young (1-0) kept his team in the game, leaving in line for the win. He pitched 5⅓ innings, giving up 6 hits and 1 earned run with a strikeout and walk.
In relief, Keegan Long (0-1) was masterful for two innings, but became the victim of porous defense in a go-ahead Bees eighth inning. As the Cougars led 3-1, the Bees produced a late rally. The inning got off to a bad start when Cougars third baseman, Fernery Ozuna dropped a fly ball. The next batter, Jake Yasinich singled to left, Grant Heyman fumbled the ball for the second error of the inning,
Two batters later, Ranyelmy Alberto hit a towering 3-run homer to left center field against new reliever, Gabe Speier (1-2). It was the first homer Speier's ever given up, and the Bees took a 4-3 lead.
The Cougars went down 1-2-3 against Burlington's Aaron Cox in the final two innings.
Samuel Holland (1-0) got the win for the Bees, Gabe Speier (1-2) suffered the loss and blew the save. Burlington's Aaron Cox notched his first save of this season.
The Cougars are back in action at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday night against the Bees. Cougars left-hander Junior Garcia (2-2, 4.54 ERA) of the battles Burlington hurler, Jose Rodriguez (2-3, 3.74 ERA).