8/17, Cougars 7, Burlington 5

The Cougars bats came alive tonight, at least for one night. They would get 16 hits and score 7 runs in their win over the Burlington Bees 7-5.

Steve Parker had four hits and four runs batted in. Mike Spina hit a homerun. Chris Berroa got on base three times and stole two bases. Anvioris Ramirez kept the Cougars in the game, he went six innings. Giving up four hits and three runs. Jose Guzman pitched great in two innings of work, he gave up two hits and struck out two. Justin Murray would give up a two run homerun in the ninth.

The Cougars fell behind early again, as the Bees would score a run in the second. Jason Taylor led off with a double to right center. He would get to third on a Jose Bonilla fly to right, he tagged up and made it. Ramirez threw a wild pitch which let Taylor score.

Chris Berroa then led off the third inning with a walk, then stole second. Nino Leyja tried to get Berroa over to second before the steal, but his bunt attempt would end up in a strikeout. One out later, Parker doubled down the left field line to drive in Berrora.

Ramirez would give back the run in the bottom half of the inning. Jason Morales led off with a double to left center. Patrick Norris then popped up a bunt attempt. One out later, David Wood singled to center to score Morales. Wood would be picked off of first to end the inning.

Burlington added another run in the third inning. Nick Francis led off by reaching on an error by Steve Parker. On the play Francis grounded one to third, Mike Spina threw to Parker at first, and he lost the ball in the sun. Francis would get to second on the errant throw. Two outs later, Juan Fraterol grounded one back to the mound. Ramirez should've gotten the ball, it rolled over to short, Tyler Ladendorf tried to bare hand the ball and missed. It would go down as an infield single, that would score Taylor.

Finally the Cougars would put something together in the fifth inning, and tie the score. Leyja led it off with a single to left. Ladendorf then singled to left. Parker would double off of the left center field wall to score both Leyja and Ladendorf. He would be out at third trying for a triple. Two more runs for the Cougars in the sixth inning. With one out, Dusty Napoleon walked. Berrora then singled to left. Leyja followed with a single to left to score Napoleon. Ladendorf then hit one to third. The Bees tried for a double play. The throw from the second baseman was wide, it would allow Berroa to score.

Mike Spina led off the seventh with a homerun to left. The last run for the Cougars came in the eighth inning. Berroa led off with a walk. He then stole second and went to third on a bad throw by the catcher. Leyja walked. One out later, Parker singled to right center to drive home Berroa. The Bees would then make a pitching change. Spina walked to load the bases. Jeremy Barfield would hit into the inning ending double play.

The Cougars actually had a couple of more chances in the game, especially the early innings. In the first inning with two outs, Parker and Spina both singled. Barfield would fly out to right to end the inning. Adfter the run scoring double by Parker in the third, Spina singled to center. That made it runners on first and third with two outs. Barfield would ground out to second. After the Spina leadoff homerun in the seventh, Barfield would reach on a droped third strike. The Bees then made a pitching change. Petey Paramore greated the new pitcher with a single to left. Franklin Hernandez singled up the middle. Barfield tried to score and would be thrown out at the plate.

The Bees had their chances to, in the firs tinning Patrick Norris walked and stole second. He would be stranded there. The Bees would try to make a game out of it in the ninth inning down four runs against Justin Murray. With one out, Graterol reached on a Spina error. One out later, Jason Morales took Murray deep to left.

Tomorrow at Burlington @6:30
Mathieu Leblanc-Poirier (3-6, 4.20) vs Tim Melville (4-7, 4.25)