9/2, Cougars 2, Peoria 3

The Cougars had their chances to win tonights game, but just couldn't get that one hit when needed. They would lose to the Peoria Chiefs 3-2.

Kenny Smalley started and pitched ok, He went five innings giving up four hits and only one run. That one run was lucky, because he walked three and hit two. He had runners on base throughout his outing, the Chiefs would strand nine in the game.

The Chiefs scored first in the third inning. With one out, Smalley hit Brett Jackson. Ryan Flaherty then walked, and Smalley then loaded the bases by hitting Rebel Ridling. Kyler Burke would hit a sacrifice fly to center to bring home Jackson. D.J. LeMahieu would fly to center to end the inning.

That would be the only run against Smalley, but chances did come against him. In the second inning Burke led off with a single to right center. LeMahieu then grounded one to first. Steve Parker stepped on the bag and threw to second for the double play. Nelson Perez followed with a single to left. Mario Mercedes then doubled down the right field line to get Perez to third. Junior Lake would ground out to end the inning.

In the fourth inning, Perez led off with a double down the left field line. Two outs later, and with Perez at third, Jose Valdez walked. Valdez would be picked off of first, by Smalley on the fake to third throw to first trick.

The Cougars first run came in the fourth inning. Connor Crumbliss led off with a single to right, he would get to second on a balk. One out later, Parker singled to right center to score Crumbliss.

Peoria added two more runs in the later part of the game. In the sixth off of A.J. Huttenlocker, LeMahieu led off with a double down the right field line. Two outs later, Lake grounded one to third. The ump says that Lake beat the throw, I don't know. It was scored a hit, LeMahieu would score on the play.

The other run the Chiefs got came in the seventh inning when Jackson led off by launching one into the night towards right field.

In the ninth inning, down two runs the Cougars would have a chance. Parker led off with a single to left. Mike Spina then walked. Franklin Hernandez took a tough pitch and put down a good sacrifice bunt to move the runners along. Jeremy Barfield then hit a sacrifice fly to right to score Parker. Spina also tagged and just made it into third before the throw. Petey Paramore would come up with the tying run on third and two outs. He would fly to center to end the game.


Tomorrow at Peoria @6:30
Murphy Smith (1-2, 4.94) vs Justin Bristow (5-7, 4.31)

The Cougars made a roster move today as Daniel Thomas was placed on the disabled list with shoulder soreness. Carlos Arrieche was taken off of the disabled list.