8/10, Clinton 4, Cougars 6

The Cougars finally won another home game, this time in the finale of the series against the Clinton Lumberkings 6-4. They had to come back twice, the last time with four runs in the eighth inning for the win. This is their 2nd win in the last 11 home games.

The big inning was the eighth inning when they started off the inning down 4-2 and having only five hits. Leonardo Gil led it off with a single up the middle. Nino Leyja then grounded one to third, the third baseman tried to get Gil at second on a force play. He would beat the throw. Then Tyler Ladendorf bunted the runners into scoring position with only one out. Mike Spina would strike out. Jeremy Barfield came through with a single to right to score both Gil and Leyja. He would just make second on an error by the right fielder. Chris Berroa then came in to pitch run, while the Kings were making a pitching change. Steve Parker then blooped a single to center to score Berroa. The Cougars could've blown the game wide open. Petey Paramore followed with a single to left. Franklin Hernandez dribbled one to short that the shortstop booted for their fifth error of the game. Parker scored on the error and Paramore made third. Second and third with two outs, Carlos Arrieche would strike out to end the inning.

Murphy Smith started for the Cougars and lasted six innings, he would give up seven hits and two runs. In the first two innings he ended both with double plays. In the third inning a great throw by Barfield to homeplate to nail Shaver Hansen would save the Cougars from allowing a run.

That streak ended in the fourth when the Kings scored one run. Nate Tenbrink led off with a single up the middle. Two outs later, Kris Sanchez doubled off the wall in center to score Tenbrink. Another run scored in the fifth inning, this time a solo homer by Ryan Royster off of the facing of the right field deck.

The Cougars tied the game up in the sixth inning with two runs of thier own. Arrieche led off with a single to left. Gil then singled to right center. Leyja followed by bunting to third. The third baseman got the ball and threw to third where the short stop was covering to force Arrieche out at third. Ladendorf singled to left to score Gil. On the play the runners where off with the pitch trying to steal, Ladendorf put the ball right where the shortstop was. Spina then hit a sacrifice fly to right to score Leyja. Barfield would strike out to end the inning and strand Ladendorf at third.

Clinton would get ahead in the eighth inning with two runs of their own. With one out, Tenbrink singled to short. Ladendorf made a nice play to keep the ball in the infield. Ian Bladergroen then doubled off the right field wall, after Barfield took the wrong route to the ball. Tenbrink would score on the play. Blake Ochoa singled down the left field line to score Bladergroen.


Tomorrow vs Quad City @6:30
Scott McGregor (5-8, 6.05) vs Kenny Smalley (9-4, 2.20)