Photo: Bees outfielder Rayneldy Rosario pitches a scoreless ninth inning. (Steve Cirinna/Burlington Bees)
By John Bohnenkamp
Three errors in the first inning helped keep Robinson Pina from having a longer outing, and taxed the Burlington Bees’ bullpen.
The 7-2 win by the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers in Friday’s Class A Midwest League game at Community Field was a game that got away early, the 11th loss for the Bees in the last 12 games.
Wisconsin (57-59 overall, 26-21 second half) took two of the three games in the series. The Bees (55-62, 16-31) committed 11 errors over the three games.
“We couldn’t get them out, we couldn’t score,” Bees manager Jack Howell said.
Pina (4-7) struck out three in the first inning, but only got two outs. He had thrown 34 pitches in the inning before being removed after walking Chad McClanahan.
Pina struck out Jesus Lujano to open the game, but Lujano reached when the third strike got away from catcher Keinner Pina. He then struck out Korry Howell for the first out, but surrendered a two-run home run to Thomas Dillard.
Pina struck out David Fry for the second out, but Je’Von Ward and Brent Diaz both reached on errors by second baseman Adrian Rondon. With Ward on third and Diaz on first, the Timber Rattlers tried a double steal. Keinner Pina threw down to second, and then Ward sprinted home. Shortstop Livan Soto’s throw home was wild for the third error of the inning, allowing Diaz to go to third.
When McClanahan walked, Pina was at his pitch limit for the inning.
“The only thing you can say is the errors cost him his outing,” Howell said.
The Bees had to scramble with pitching after that. Parker Joe Robinson pitched 3 1/3 innings. Chad Sykes followed with 1 2/3 innings, and Greg Veliz pitched 2 1/3 shutout innings.
Howell ended up having to use two position players to pitch the ninth. Designated hitter Connor Fitzsimons started in the ninth, throwing one pitch before leaving with an injury. Outfielder Rayneldy Rosario pitched a scoreless inning, allowing two hits while striking out one.
The Bees got to within 3-1 in the fourth on Kevin Maitan’s solo home run to left-center field. They added a run in the ninth when Nonie Williams scored on a wild pitch.
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