Alton Cruises Past Burlington, 8-4

ALTON, Ill. - Justin Needles fired six innings of excellent mound work, allowing just one run and setting the foundation for an 8-4 Alton River Dragons victory over the Burlington Bees on Monday night.

The second-year pitcher was hardly in any jams, scattering three hits, with two walks and a hit batsmen. 

Eddie King Jr extended his hitting streak to 13 games with a fourth-inning two-run homer that valuted the River Dragons in front 2-1. He finished with two hits and three RBI. Blake Burris also pushed his hitting streak to a personal best seven games with a single. 

With the win, the River Dragons lead the Prairie Land Division by one full game over idle O'Fallon with six games left in the first half race.

Burlington led 1-0 after plating a run in the top of the fourth, but King's two out homer to right put Alton ahead in the home half.

Blake Stenger delivered a two-out RBI single in the fifth pushing the lead to 3-1.  Then in the sixth, with runners at first and second, King again came through with a line drive base hit to centerfield.  The ball was misplayed by the centerfielder, allowing both base runners to score as well as King who scampered all the way around.  The play was correctly called a single, with a three-base error but the "faux" inside the park homer sealed the game's ultimate result.