Bees shut out Cougars 8-0

Burlington's (25-27) Jared Foster bashed 2 home runs and the Bees held the Cougars (25-27) to just 1 hit, as the Cougars fell on Wednesday night, 8-0.

It was just the fourth time all season the Cougars have been shut out by an opponent and the first time since May 24.

The Bees scored a run against Cougars' starter, lefty Junior Garcia (2-3), in each of the first two innings.

Jared Foster led off the game with a solo home run. It was Foster's third long ball of the season and the sixth consecutive game, in which a Cougars pitcher has given up a home run.

The Bees scored another run in the second, sparked by a double from Brendon Sanger.

Holding a 2-run advantage, the Bees tagged Garcia with a 3-run fifth. With two runners in scoring position and one out, Foster again went deep to left field, and Garcia was removed two batters later as the Bees went up 5-0.

Garcia pitched 4⅔ innings, giving up 6 hits and 5 runs, He had 3 strikeouts and 2 walks. His ERA rose from 4.54 to 5.13.

The Bees poured on 3 more runs in the final inning with more offense from Jared Foster. But first, catcher Webster Rivas slugged a two-RBI double and Foster finished the day with a sacrifice fly, his fifth RBI.

Even after Jose Rodriguez (3-3) exited after a dominant start for the Bees, reliever Luis Pena was just as effective as the Cougars lone hit was a first inning leadoff single by Jason Morozowski.

Junior Garcia took the loss for the Cougars, Jose Rodriguez picked up the win for the Bees, and Luis Pena earned his first save.

Thursday's 6:30 p.m. homestand finale features right-hander Bo Takahashi (1-1, 3.09 ERA) against Burlington's right-hander, Joe Gatto (1-6, 6.80 ERA).