Series Preview: Kernels vs Burlington Bees

BURLINGTON BEES (18-6) @ CEDAR RAPIDS KERNELS (17-8)

Games: @ PERFECT GAME FIELD, CEDAR RAPIDS

Wednesday, Thursday, Friday (All beginning at 6:35 p.m.)

Last 10 Games: Cedar Rapids (7-3) Kane County (7-3)

Cedar Rapids at Home: 7-3

Burlington on the Road: 8-4

Burlington leads the Kernels by 1.5 games in the Midwest League Western Division.

Each team has won 3 games in a row.

Burlington is 1st in the league with a 2.90 team earned run average

Pitching Rotation:

Game 1: CR: RHP Heath Nichols (1-2, 8.10) vs. Bur: RHP Blake Hassebrock (1-0, 0.00)

Heath Nichols is a 2010 29th round draft pick. Nichols was the winning pitcher at Quad Cities on Friday. He went five innings, allowing one run on four hits. He struck out five and walked five. Blake Hassebrock is a 2010 8th round draft pick. Hassebrock has not allowed an earned run this season in four starts. In 22.1 innings, he has only allowed 11 hits while striking out 24 and walking 8. Opponents are hitting only .145 against Hassebrock. His last start was Friday versus Kane County in Burlington. He received a no decision after going 6.1 innings and allowing no earned runs and two hits. He struck out 11 and walked four.

Game 2: CR: RHP Suammy Baez (1-2, 3.65) vs. Bur: RHP A.J. Griffin (3-0, 1.38)

Suammy Baez was signed by the Angels in 2007. Baez took the loss at Quad Cities on Saturday. He was the tough luck losing pitcher after going six innings and allowing one run on four hits. He struck out nine and walked one. A.J. Griffin is a 2010 13th round pick. Griffin pitched Saturday against Kane County. He received a no decision after going seven innings and allowing one run on six hits. He struck out eight and walked none. On the season, Griffin has struck out 34 and walked only 3.

Game 3: CR: RHP Daniel Tillman (3-0, 2.95) vs. Bur: RHP Josh Bowman (3-0, 3.55)

Daniel Tillman is a 2010 2nd round pick. Tillman last pitched in relief on Monday at Kane County. He went four innings out of the bullpen, allowing one run on four hits while striking out seven and walking one. Josh Bowman is a 2010 10th round pick. Bowman started on Monday against Peoria and was the winning pitcher. He went six innings, allowing three runs on five hits. He struck out two and walked two.