Lamb good again…Bees struggle, but hold on for 9th inning win!

John Lamb had another efficient night on the mound for the Burlington Bees, Class A team for the Kansas City Royals. Last night’s match-up against the Cedar Rapids Kernels, Class A team for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, was a rather lopsided affair until the sixth inning. John Lamb surrendered the ball to the Bees bullpen with a 8-0 lead, 1 out, and two Kernels base runners on the pond.      

Adam Younger walks.      

Mike Trout called out on strikes.      

Jean Segura singles on a ground ball to right fielder Rene Oriental.      

Adam Younger to 2nd.      

Pitcher Change: Scott Kelley replaces John Lamb      

2009 Appalachian League card

Luis Jimenez doubles (7) on a ground ball to left fielder Allen Caldwell.      

Adam Younger scores.      

Jean Segura to 3rd.      

Carlos Ramirez flies out to left fielder Allen Caldwell.      

Randal Grichuk reaches on fielding error by first baseman Joey Lewis.      

Jean Segura scores.      

Luis Jimenez to 3rd.      

Jose Jimenez homers (2) on a fly ball to right field.      

Luis Jimenez scores.      

Randal Grichuk scores.      

Eric Oliver grounds out, pitcher Scott Kelley to first baseman Joey Lewis.      

As the family sat around the living room, listening to the internet audio feed of the game, we were all feeling pretty confident my son had a good chance to get his first Midwest League win of the 2010 season.      

The statistics for John Lamb concluded with five and one-third innings, 2 hits, 2 runs, 1 earned run, 2 walks, 8 strike outs while facing a total of 20 batters. John got 5 outs on ground balls and 3 by the fly ball before leaving the game. ERA climbed a little to an even 1.00 for the season, but still another good day on the mound for the tall lefty from Southern California. All a starting pitcher can do is give their team a chance to win the ballgame and John Lamb continues to do just that.      

The Bees bullpen continued to struggle throughout the game all the way into the top of the 9th as the game was tied up. The possible win for John Lamb was now officially gone until another day. The Bees picked up the win in the bottom of the 9th with a walk off base-hit by Adam Frost that scored Rene Oriental. Burlington banged out 14 hits during the game and giving the Bees only the second win streak during this early Midwest League season.      

GO BEES!      

Good luck trying to get a third straight win, today.      

– – – James Lamb      

http://www.jolamb.com