Mistakes cost Loons

The first error of the 2008 season for new Loons third baseman Brandon Taylor was a costly one. His error in the seventh inning allowed the Burlington Bees to take command in Wednesday night’s ballgame as they beat the Great Lakes Loons at Dow Diamond by a score of 5-3.

The Loons struck first in the fourth inning when Brian Mathews’ RBI single gave the Loons a 1-0 lead.

The Bees responded in the sixth when Johnny Giavotella came home on a ball that catcher Kenley Jansen blocked in the dirt but couldn’t find near the plate.

In the seventh, Giavotella reached on a ground ball to Taylor, which would have been the third out of the inning. Instead, Taylor’s error allowed Clint Robinson to bat, and he lined a two-run single to put Burlington in control with a 3-1 lead.

The Bees tacked on two more runs in the eighth when David Lough launched his sixth home run of the season, a solo shot to make it 4-1 Burlington, and added an insurance run when former Loon Juan Rivera lifted a sacrifice fly in the same frame to make it 5-1.

Juan Abreu picked up the victory for the Bees in the contest after relieving starter Danny Duffy, improving his record to 2-4. Bob Zimmermann allowed four runs (two earned) out of the Loons bullpen in picking up his first loss as a Loon. Loons’ starter Bryan Morris pitched well, spinning six innings of two-hit baseball, allowing a run and striking out eight. Despite picking up a no-decision, Morris has compiled a 1-0 record with a 1.80 ERA in 20 innings on the mound since the Midwest League All-Star break.

The Loons continue their six-game homestand and three-game set against the Burlington Bees Thursday evening at Dow Diamond. Game time is 7:05 p.m.