To get back into the win column, sometimes it takes a simple swing of the bat.
Catapulted by Troy Peltz’s momentum-altering grand slam home run in the bottom of the third, Burlington overcame an early 3-0 deficit and ultimately won 13-8 against the Danville Dans on Saturday night at Community Field in Prospect League play.
The Bees improved to 7-7 for the second half of the season.
Danville slipped to 7-4.
Burlington has won three of its last five and now face the Illinois Valley Pistol Shrimp on Sunday. The Bees have won their last three encounters against Illinois Valley. In Burlington’s last two losses, the Bees actually were leading into the final frame.
“I think we’re getting hot right now,” Burlington Bees manager Owen Oreskovich said. “The pitchers have been doing their job when they have to.”
Danville actually outhit Burlington, 15-13, but left 10 on base.
Peltz’s blast seemed to snap Burlington out of a lethargic start. Burlington started to run the base paths with enhanced aggression. Burlington’s defense was solidified. And the Bees methodically wore out Danville with five runs in both the third and seventh inning.
“We were kind of able to get a breath and refocus,” Oreskovich said of Peltz’s timely homer. “It was a good job by Troy but we knew that a one-run lead wouldn’t hold. So we had to stay locked in and keep putting pressure on them.”
Burlington’s Aiden Terronez overcame a sluggish start and ultimately went a solid five innings for the Bees to pick up the win, striking out six. Terronez improved to 3-1 for the year.
Kollin Asbury was saddled with the loss for the Dans.
“We gave up 15 hits, but we made pitches when we needed them,” Oreskovich said. “When (Danville) were able to get hits or doubles, they were mostly left on the field.”
Peltz only had the one hit on the night, but his four runs batted in paved the way for the Bees. Jace Figuereo was 3-for-5 with a double and a pair of RBIs. Adam Kudronowicz was also 3-for-5 with two extra-base hits. Juan Fernandez had three RBIs, as well. Six different Bees performers had at least one run batted in. Kudronowicz has been lethal at the plate of late and Saturday’s performance helped him raise his batting average to a robust .389.
Figuereo’s three-hit night helped him raise his batting average 15 points to a glossy .369.
Seven Bees players are batting over .300.
As the stretch run approaches, Oreskovich is confronted with the unenviable task of making the necessary adjustments as players are still coming in and others are starting to return to college.
“It’s the hardest part of being a manager in the summer,” Oreskovich said. “You have to find guys to do the job when you need them.”