9/3, Cougars 8, Peoria 4

The Cougars played a good game tonight against the Peoria Chiefs, they would win 8-4. It was actually a lot closer than the score looks, because of a hectic ninth inning.

Kane County was up 8-3 going into the ninth, Jose Guzman was on the mound starting his second inning of relief. Michael Brenly led off with a single down the left field line, then would get to second on a wild pitch. One out later, David Macias walked. Brett Jackson then grounded one to second, the Chiefs would get the force out on Macias at second. First and third with two outs. Ryan Flaherty then singles to right center to drive home Brenly. With that run and runners on frist and third with two outs. The tying run would be on the on deck circle, so it was a save situation. The Cougars brought in Justi Murray to close out the game. Flaherty would take second on deffensive indiffrence. Murray then walked Rebel Ridling loading the bases. Kyler Burke came up as the tying run. Burke hit one to the warning track in left, that Franklin Hernandez was able to track down to end the game.

The game started out well enough for the Cougars as they would pick up the first run of the game in the first inning. Connor Crumbliss led off with a single to left. One out later, Steve Parker doubled to right center to bring home Crumbliss. Peoria would tie the game in the second with a run of their own off of Cougar starter Murphy Smith.

Burke would lead off with a walk. D.J. LeMahieu then singled up the middle. One out later, Michael Brenly just beat out a grounder to short, to score Burke.

The next half inning the Cougars would score two more runs. Carlos Arrieche hit his first homerun on American soil, as he lead off the third. Crumbliss then singled to left, then would steal second. Leonardo Gil followed with a single to left. The leftfielder misplayed the ball, and on the error Crumbliss would score and Gil would get to second. Gil then tried to steal third and would be out. The next hitter, Parker then doubled down the left field line. It would've scored Gil easily.

One more run for the Cougars in the fifth inning, with one out, Gil would be hit by a pitch. Parker then singled to right. Hernandez then grounded one to second. The second baseman bobbled the ball, and somehow Parker would be called safe at second. On the play Gil would score and Hernandez would get a fielder's choice. The Chiefs would bring in a new hurler. Jeremy Barfield walked to load the bases. Petey Paramore would hit into the inning ending double play.

Peoria did score one more run in the sixth inning. Ridling lead it off with a single to right. Burke would walk, and LeMahieu then singled to right to load the bases. The Cougars would then bring in Trey Barham to replace Smith. Barham got Nelson Perez to ground one to Parker at first who threw home to get Ridling at the plate for the first out. Brenly then hit a sacrifice fly to center to score Burke. Junior Lake then hit into a force out at second to end the inning. Barham did a nice job to get out of the inning with only one run scoring, after he came in with the bases loaded and nobody out.

Four runs in the seventh for the Cougars, you would think that would put the icing on the cake for this game. Crumbliss lead off with a walk. One out later, Parker would be hit by a pitch. One more out later, Barfield singled to center to score Crumbliss. Paramore then singled to left to score Parker. The Chiefs would then bring in a new pitcher to face Tyler Ladendorf. Ladendorf then doubled down then right field line to score both Barfield and Paramore.

Rebel Ridling launched a shot to lead off the eighth for the Chiefs. The one other inning when the Chiefs had a chance to score some runs came in the fifth inning off of Smith. Perez led off with a bunt single to third. Brenly would then be hit by a pitch. Lake then hit into a fielder's choice, with Brenly out at second. Macias walked, this loaded the bases with only one out. Smith would then get Brett Jackson and Ryan Flaherty both looking on strikes to strand the runners.

Smith went into the sixth, giving up four hits and two runs. He walked three and struck out four. Trey Barham pitched two perfect innings. Connor Crumbliss got on base four out of the five times he came to the plate Steve Parker reached base all five plate appearances, on his birthday. He had two doubles and a single, driving in a run and scoring a run.

The Cougars did have a couple of other chances to score some runs. In the eighth inning with one out, Crumbliss doubled down the right field line. One out later, Parker walked. Hernadnez would ground out to end the inning. In the ninth Paramore walked with one out, but would be stranded at third.

Tomorrow at Peoria @ 6:30
Anvioris Ramirez (4-2, 3.06) vs Austin Bibens-Dirkx (7-1, 1.66)


Mike Spina did not play because of flu like symptoms.Daniel Thomas was sent home, after going on the disabled list yesterday.


The 2010 schedule is posted up on the website, http://malamut.net/schedule10.html We open April 8th in all placed, Appleton, Wisconsin. Do I hear three straight snow outs?