Bees lose finale; series to Rattlers

(Appleton-WI)- The Burlington Bees (55-72) lost the series finale to the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (45-82) 6-2 on Wednesday night at Neuroscience Group Field in Appleton. 

With two outs in the bottom of the first inning, Elvis Rubio reached on a bloop single to center and scored when David Denson hit a two run home run to center, giving the Timber Rattlers a 2-0 lead. Greg McCall kicked off the bottom of the second inning with a single and then came home to score on a Sthervin Matos double, pushing the Timber Rattlers lead to 3-0. David Denson's big night continued in the bottom of the thir dinning, slapping a lead off double to left. After moving to third on a Jake Gatewood flyout, Denson scored the Timber Rattlers fourth run of the game, on a Greg McCall sacrifice fly, extending Wisconsin's lead to 4-0.

The Bees got on the board in the top of the fourth inning. David Fletcher opened the frame by crushing a solo home run to left, his first of his professional career, cutting the Bees' deficit to 4-1.

 With one out in the bottom of the fourth inning, Luis Aviles reached on a bunt single and then came home to score on a Tucker Neauhaus inside the park home run, upping the Timber Rattlers' lead to 6-1. The Bees added a run in the ninth inning thanks to a Timber Rattlers error but lost 6-2, dropping two out of the three game series to the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers. 

Wisconsin starter, David Burkhalter (5-7) threw five innings, allowing just one run, striking out eight in the win. Bees' starter Keynan Middleton (5-10) was charged with the loss while Cody Ponce (3) earned a four inning save. The Bees head back home to face the Clinton LumberKings, Thursday night at 6:30, when Justin Anderson starts for the Bees against Zach Littell for Clinton. For tickets, visit gobees.com or stop by the Bees' office and for more information, call (319)-754-5705.