Quad City River Bandits at Burlington Bees
April 19th, 2004
| Quad City |
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0 |
0 |
0 |
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0 |
2 |
0 |
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0 |
0 |
0 |
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2 |
5 |
1 |
| Burlington |
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3 |
0 |
0 |
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0 |
0 |
0 |
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2 |
0 |
X |
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5 |
5 |
2 |
E-Taylor, Donachie, McFall, LOB QC-5, BUR-4, 2B-Taylor, 3B-Whitrock, Lubanski, SACF-Gaffney, SB-Lubanski, Maier, CS-Whitrock, Lubanski
WP-Schutt, Uhl, BB-Graham, Donachie, Keim, McFall, SO-Phillips, Gomon, Sanchez
T-2:17, A-725
Burlington Hawk Eye
by Susan Denk
Chris Lubanski received some good advice when he talked to his father, Wally, Saturday after the Burlington Bees centerfielder struggled through an 0 for 8 series against Wisconsin.
"I talked to my dad and (Bees hitting coach) Pat (Anderson), and they said just go out there and have some fun." said Lubanski, the fifth overall pick in last season's draft. " It's been working out."
Lubanski and all of the Bees have followed Wally's advice and had a lot of fun.
Burlington defeated the Quad Cities River Bandits 5-2, Monday night at Community Field, completing a sweep of its Midwest League rival.
The Bees now sit at 5-6. The Bansits fall to 4-7.
Lubanski went 2 for 4 Monday, a day after knocking out five hits in seven at bats Sunday. That performance was only the 12th time since 1983 a Bees player had five hits in a game. James Shanks was the last player to accomplish the feat, twice doing it in 2002. Lubanski also had five RBIs Sunday and scored the winning run in the 11th inning.
"I was hitting the ball, it was just right a people." said Lubanski, whose batting average has skyrocketed from .056 last week to .313 after Monday's game. "It's mostly just my frame of mind more confidence."
"He's starting to figure it out," Burlington manager Jim Gabella said. "We tell these guys that every level they move up, it speeds up a little but and they have to speed up with it. It took him a little but of time but now he's starting to speed up with it."
Right hander Greg Atencio had it figured out his first two starts but it took until Monday for the 22 year old to get his first victory. His last start, the Bees lost 1-0 to the Timber Rattlers although Atencio allowed only two hits over six innings. He struck out a season high eight. The only run against him was unearned.
His teammates helped Monday, playing solid defence, including a spectacular sliding catch by Angel Sanchez followed by a rocket thorw to first baseman Kila Kaaihue, who stretched out to make the play, and getting the offense to make Atencio's job easier. The pitcher worked eight innings, giving up four hits and two runs, one earned.He did not walk a batter and struck out eight.
"It's always nice," said Atencio of the offense and defensive support. "We weren't worried after out first two series. I tink everyone panicked a little bit initially but we all came back and we're playing like we're capable of."
The Bees opened up a 3-2 game in the seventh, employing different methods to put runner on base and then send them home.
Two singles and a wild pitch put runner on second and third. A walk loaded the bases. A fielder's choice followed by an error plated two runs. Lubanski stole his first base of the season.
"We did a great job getting some guys on and getting them in even without getting a base hit." said Gabella. "We preach that situational hitting. You have to do whatever you can to get the guy in, and we did."
Burlington now goes on it's first road trip of the year, traveling to Appleton to face Wisconsin again. After four games with the Timber Rattlers, the Bees return to Burlington for a four game series with Clinton.
It will be a good change for the players and coaches after 11 straight home games to open the season.
"Hopefully we all just go out and keep playing like we're playing, just go out there and play hard and come back with four more wins." Lubanski said.
"It will be nice, especially to have a little four game series and then come back here," said Atencio. "I think it will be real nice to get a road trip under our belts."
Catcher, Brian Foster was placed on the disabled list after spraining his thumb Saturday. Taking Foster's place on the roster is Luis Gonzalez, who spent all of last season with the Bees. Also joining Burlington from extended spring training in Arizona is right handed pitcher Chris Goodman. Goodman replaces lefty Danny Christensen, on the disabled list with a strained left forearm.
How They Scored
Bees 1st
Lubanski tripled down right field line. Sanchez grounded out to short, Lubanski scored. Maier singled to right, stole second, Graham walked, Donachie walked, bases loaded. Wild pitch, Maier scored, Graham to third, Donachie to second. Keim walked, bases loaded. Gaffney flied to center, Graham tagged up and scored, Donachie to third, Kaaihue lined to right.
Bandits 5th
Peterson singled to left. Phillips struck out. Whiterock tripled to left, Peterson scored, Zamojc reached on fielder's choice, advanced to third on an error by the catcher. Whitrock scored, Gomon struck out. Rutgers ground out to second.
Bees 7th
Gaffney singled to right center. Kaaihue singled through the right side, Gaffney to second. Kaaihue and Gaffney moved up a base on a wild pitch. McFall walked, bases loaded. Lubanski reached on a fielder's choice, advanced to second on a throwing error by shrotstop. McFall out at second, Kaaihue and Gaffney scored. Lubanski stole third. Sanchez struck out. Maier flied out to right.