Gaskey Gem, Eight Run Sixth Inning Propels Burlington to First Place With Win Over Clinton

Clinton, IA – Blake Gaskey (Northern Illinois) twirled the start of the season for the Burlington Bees (17-7, 28-21), going eight innings, allowing just two hits and one run with six strikeouts; the longest start of the year for a Bee. With Burlington up 1-0 going into the sixth inning, the Bees broke through for eight runs to pull away for a 9-2 win over the Clinton LumberKings on July 23 at NelsonCorp Field. Gaskey and Nick Baffa were locked into a pitchers dual early on. Each team was held without a run or hit through three innings. 

Burlington broke through in the fourth as Juan Fernandez (SCC) lead off the frame with a single and scored on an RBI double from Christian Graves (Mount Mercy). In the eight-run sixth inning, Rowen Bergeron (LSU-Eunice) drove in half the runners on a grand slam to dead center field. Jace Figuereo (South Dakota State) and Graves each had hits to score a pair of runners to extend the lead to 9-0. 

Through 6 1/3 innings, Gaskey allowed just one base runner on a third inning walk. Gavin Awbrey of Clinton broke the no-hit bid and shutout on a solo home run to left. Gaskey would retire the next two batters before tossing a scoreless bottom of the eighth to end his outing. 

Foti Rigopoulos (Illinois) came out of the bullpen for the final three outs, surrendering one run. 

With the win, Burlington jumps into sole possession of first place in the Northwest Division for the first time in the second half. The Bees and LumberKings meet again tomorrow night in Clinton, with first pitch set for 6:30 pm at NelsonCorp Field.