By John Bohnenkamp
There was some disappointment at Community Field when Marcos Sanchez’s fly ball fell into the glove of Quincy right fielder Nick Iannantone just short of the wall.
Three home runs in a noisy eighth inning led to some high expectations.
The solo homers from Jackson Jones, Kevin Santiago and Mason Land capped the Burlington Bees’ 13-5 win over the Gems on Sunday at Community Field.
The Bees had 16 hits less than 24 hours after being shut out in a loss to O’Fallon.
“We took a day off, I guess,” Bees manager Gary McClure said, laughing. “But we really swung (the bats) tonight.”
All but one of the Bees’ runs came in their final four offensive innings, nine after they fell behind 5-4 heading into the bottom of the sixth.
Sanchez’s solo home run in the sixth tied the game, then the Bees added three runs on Reid Halfacre’s RBI double and Jones’ two-run single.
Nathan Ebersole and Ben Nippolt drove in runs in the seventh, then the home-run eruption followed in the eighth.
“When you add runs, you usually win,” McClure said.
Garrett Langrell (4-0) was the winning pitcher. Jake Stipp (1-2) took the loss.
JONES REBOUNDS: Jones, who had a 10-game hitting streak snapped on Saturday, was 4-for-5 with five RBIs. He had two doubles to go with his home run, and boosted his batting average to .357.
PITCHING: Bees starter Garrett Moltzan allowed five hits over 5 1/3 innings. Langrell, who was charged with a run in the sixth, pitched scoreless seventh and eighth innings. Reece Wissinger pitched a scoreless ninth.
“We got good starting pitching and then the relievers closed the door,” McClure said.
DEFENSIVE GEMS: Bees center fielder Lincoln Riley made a diving catch on Jayce Maag’s short fly ball to lead off the seventh inning.
“I thought Lincoln Riley made a great catch,” McClure said. “I wasn’t sure he was going to get there.”
Photo: Jackson Jones (left), Kevin Santiago (center) and Mason Land hit home runs in the eighth inning of Sunday’s game. (Steve Cirinna/Burlington Bees)
Baseball at The Hive 