Thursday, May 13, 2010

5/13, Quad City 5, Cougars 1

The Cougars offense would be shut down by the Quad city River Bandits pitching tonight as they would lose 5-1. Shelby Miller, who was the Cardinals first round pick last year, pitched great. He tied his longest outing of the year with five and one thirds innings, giving up three hits and no runs. He walked two, the last two hitters he faced and struck out five.

He kept the Cougars off balance all game long, as he gave up the three hits but strikeouts in key situations and a key double play limited the Cougars. In the third inning the Cougars got their first hit, with one out in the third inning, Myrio Richard doubled to the leftcenterfield wall. Miller then struck out the next two hitters. In the fourth inning, Tyreace House beat out a grounder to second to lead off the inning. Two batters later, Leonardo Gil grounded into an inning ending double play. Nino Leyja led off the fifth with a single down the right field line, then would be caught stealing.

In the sixth inning with one out, Miller walked both Mike Gilmartin and Connor Crumbliss. He would leave the game after that. Reliever Justin Smith then got House to ground into an inning ending double play. Smith would give up a leadoff walk to Anthony Aliotti in the seventh. He then struck out the next two hitters before walking Max Stassi. Smith then struck out Franklin Hernandez to end the inning.

Justin Marks started for the Cougars and in the first inning things just didn't seem to go his way. D'Marcus Ingram led off the game by blooping one to left. Gilmartin and Hernandez both tried to catch the ball and it fell in between them for a double. Two outs later, matt Adams singled to center to score Ingram.

After that inning Marks would get the next eight in a row before giving up a two out single in the fourth. In the fifth inning, Marks walked both Ryan Jackson and Michael Swinson to lead off the inning. Luis Mateo then bunted the runners over. Ingram would single up the middle to score both Jackson and Mateo. The next inning Jason Stidham took Marks over the right field fence for a solo homer.

To finish off the seventh inning, after the homerun, Adams singled to left. Ryde Rodriguez then reached on a fielder's choice with Adams being out at second. Robert Stock would then single to right. The Cougars then made a pitching change bringin in Bo Schultz. Jackson would then line one to second and the Cougars would double off Rodriguez at second to get out of the inning. The other run the Bandits would score came in the seventh inning off of Schultz. Swinson led off with a single up the middle, then stole second. One out later, Ingram singled down the right field line to score Swinson.

The Cougars only run of the game came in the ninth inning off of Jesse Simpson. Aliotti led off the inning by reaching on a single to second. Gil then reached on an error by the short stop. A passed ball would get Aliotti to third. Leyja then blooped a single to center to score Aliotti. Simpson then got both Stassi and Hernandez on strikes to end the game.


Next Game
5/14 vs Quad City, 7pm
Joe Kelly (2-2, 2.96) vs Rob Gilliam (2-1, 2.87)

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

5/11, Cougars 5, Beloit 1

A great complete effort tonight by the Cougars, as they would beat the Beloit Snappers 5-1 in game two of the series. The Cougars had nine hits and left eleven men on base.

Leonardo Gil was a homerun short of hitting for the cycle. He had a double in the second, a single in the third and a triple in the fifth. His other two at bats were fly ball outs. The other story of the game was the pitching, Dan Straily, Connor Hoehn and Josh Lansford all pitched very well.

Straily went six innings, giving up three hits and one unearned run. He walked one and struck out six. He would let the leadoff man reach in four of his six innings. The only runs against him came after an error put a man on third in the sixth. He would get out of trouble a lot, in the first, Aaron Hicks led off with a double to right center. A groundout, strikeout and flyout later the inning was over. In the fifth inning he would also escape trouble. Josmel Pinto led off with a double to right. Michael Gonzales then lined one to left where Franklin Hernandez made a great diving catch. James Beresford would strike out looking, on strike three, Pinto would be thrown out at third to end the inning.

The only run of the game for the Snappers came in the sixth. Hicks led off the inning by reaching on an error. On the play Franklin Hernandez dropped the ball. One out later, Steve Liddle grounded out to short to score Hicks.

Hoehn also pitched very well, he went two innings, giving up two walks while striking out two. He had to get out of some trouble in the eighth inning. With one out, Beresford walked. One out later, Brian Dozier walked. He would get Liddle to ground out to get out of trouble. Lansford pitched a scoreless ninth. He walked the ledoff man, but would get a double play.

The offense came alive tonight as they would score five runs, on nine hits and leave eleven men on base. The first two runs came in the second inning. Gil leadoff with a double down the left field line. Nino Leyja then singled to left center to score Gil. Two outs later, Hernandez singled to right to score Leyja. In the third inning with two outs, Anthony Aliotti singled to left. Gil then singled to third and Leyja singled to right to score Aliotti.

In the fifth inning, Tyreace House led off with a walk. One out later, Gil tripled to center to score House. The next two hitters would strike out looking to strand Gil at third. Max Stassi then hit a two out solo homer in the seventh.

Kane County could've scored a few more runs in the game. In the sixth inning with two outs, Myrio Richard was hit by a pitch, he would go to second on a wild pitch. Connor Crumbliss then walked, both runners would stea a base. House then walked to load the bases. Aliotti would line out to deep center, to the warning track to end the inning.

House had three walks, and scored a run. Leyja and Stassi both had two hits.


Rashun Dixon was placed on the disabled list with a sore left wrist. This is retroactive to Friday, he is on the seven day disabled list.

Monday, May 10, 2010

5/10, Cougars 7, Beloit 8 (10)

The Cougars gave this game away, they were up 7-4 going into the bottom of the eighth. The Beloit Snappers would then score three runs to tie the game. After that the Snappers seemed to have runners on always. The Cougars walked 10 hitters, four of then would score, two hit batters also didn't help them much.

The big inning was the eighth for the Snappers as that shifted the momentum to them after they scored three runs to tie the game at seven. With one out against Cougar reliever Ryan Quigbey, Aaron Hicks walked, then Brian Dozier singled to left. Steve Liddle would then walk to load the bases with still only one out. Angel Morales singled to left to score both Hicks and Dozier. The throw from left fielder Connor Crumbliss was offline and let Liddle score.

In the bottom of the tenth the Cougars would give away the game as walks and errors caught up to them tonight. Bo Schultz was in his second full inning of relief for the Cougars. With two outs, Angel Morales was hit by a pitch. Anderson Hidalgo then reached on a fielding error by Mike Gilmartin. Both runners would advance on a Morales steal of third. Wang-Wei Lin then was intentionally walked to load the bases. On the first pitch to Josmel Pinto, he would be hit by the pitch. That would force in Morales to end the game.

The Cougars would score first in the game, with three runs in the first. With one out, Tyreace House and Anthony Aliotti both walked, a wild pitch moved both of them up a base. Leoanrdo Gil then reached on a fielder's choice. On the play the third baseman threw home to get House, but the catcher didn't have the ball and House would be safe after a colision. Nio Leyja then lined one off of the pitcher to drive home Aliotti. Max Stassi would double to left center to score Gil.

Ian Krol would start for the Cougars and pitch ok. He went five innings, giving up six hits and two runs. He walked two and struck out two. He never had a clean inning, but would be able to get out of some trouble. In the second inning, Hidaldgo led off with a single to center. One out later, Pinto would reach on a throwing error on Gil. Reggie Williams then walked to load the bases. James Beresford would line one to short, Gilmartin caught the ball and threw to third to get Hidalgo to end the inning.

Beloit scored their first run in the third inning off of Krol. With one out, Dozier walked. Liddle then singled to right. An error by rightfielder Franklin Hernandez would allow Dozier to score. Krol though gave up a double to Morales, that would put runners on second and third with only the one out. He would then get a fly out and a ground out to end the inning.

The other run the Snappes scored off of Krol came in the sixth inning. Pinto led off with a double down the right field line. One out later, Beresford singled to left. Hicks would follow with a sacrifice fly to right to score Pinto.

The Cougars added two more runs in the fifth inning after they chases starter Edgar Ibarra. Connor Crumbliss led off with a single to left. House would then double down the left field line to get Crumbliss to third. Aliotti grounded out to second to get Crumbliss home. Gil would then hit a sacrifice fly to right to score House.

Kane County scored their last two runs of the game in the seventh inning. With one out, Crumbliss walked, then stole second. House would then walk, on the last ball Crumbliss would move to third on a wild pitch. The Snappers then made a pitching change. Aliotti singled to right center to score Crumbliss. Gil would then hit a sacrifice flyt o right to score House.

The Cougars had one more opportunity to score in the game and it came in the third inning. House led off the inning with a walk. Aliotti was then hit by a pitch. Gil would put down a sacrifice bunt. That ment runners on second and third with one out. Leyja then grounded one to short, the shortstop threw home and got House at the plate. One other inning would end in a double play, the sixth, after Gilmartin had a one out single.

Beloit couldv'e won the game in the ninth inning off of Schultz. Lin led off the inning with a single to left. Pinto then bunted him over to second. Schultz then intentionally walked Williams. Beresford would hit into a fielder's choice with Lin being out at third.


Next Game
5/11 @ Beloit, 6:30
Dan Straily (3-1, 5.65) vs Michael Tonkin (NR)

Sunday, May 9, 2010

5/9, Peoria 6, Cougars 15

Chris Affinito hit two, three run homers in the Cougars 15-6 win over the Peoria Chiefs in the final game of the series. Tyreace House and Nino Leyja both had two hits.

Rob Gilliam started for the Cougars and was good today. He went six innings, giving up five hits and one run. He walked four and struck out four in his 90 pitch outing. The bullpen wasnt bad either. Hector Garcia pitched two innings of one hit ball, giving up two walks and one strikeout. Max Peterson cam in for the final out. Jose Guzman had some trouble, he was only able to get two outs in the eighth, giving up two hits and five runs. Only three of them were earned, he walked three and struck out two.

Offense really wasn't a problem for the Cougars today as they would score 15 runs on 13 hits. The got ahead in the first inning of off Chiefs starter Su-Min Jung, who was 4-0, with a sub 1 era entering the game. In the first inning Connor Crumbliss led off with a walk. House then singled up the middle. Two outs later, Leyja walked to load the bases. Max Stassi would follow with a single to left to score Crumbliss. Mike Gilmartin struck out to strand the bases loaded.

The Chiefs would tie the game in the fourth inning off of Gilliam. With one out, Greg Roahn walked, Justin Bour then singled up the middle. One out later, Richard Jones singled to right center to score Rohan. After that Jose Valdez would walk to load the bases with two outs. Gilliam would get Francisco Guzman on strikes to get out of trouble.

In the bottom half of the inning the Cougars would put a five spot on the board. Leyja led it off with a single up the middle. Max Stassi was then hit by a pitch. Gilmartin tried to bunt them over but popped up a bunt for the first out. Franklin Hernandez would single to right to score Leyja. Chris Affinito then hit a three run homer to right center. Crumbliss followed with a double down the right field line. House would bloop one to center. Anthony Aliotti hit a sacrifice fly to left to score Crumbliss.

Peoria had a couple of more chances before they would break through in the ninth for five runs. In the sixth inning, Rohan and Bour led off the innings with singles. Gilliam would then get two strike outs and a fly out. In the seventh inning, Guzman led off with a bunt single, and Hak-Ju Lee walked. After that a strike out, a ground out and a line out ended the inning.

The Cougars would get two more runs in the fifth inning. Leyja led off with a single to rigth center. Stassi would reach on a fielding error by the third baseman. On the play it should've been a force out at second on Leyja, but the third baseman threw the ball into right field, Leyja made it to third and Stassi went to second. Gilmartin followed with a sacrifice fly to left to score Leyja. One out later, Affinito and Crumbliss walked to load the bases. House would then single to left to score Stassi, Affinito would be out at the plate.

In the eighth inning the Cougars sealed the game, or so they thought. The would get seven runs, on three hits. Crumbliss led it off with a walk against Steven Grife. House then was hit by a pitch and Alliotti walked to load the bases. The Chiefs then brought in Jordan Latham to pitch. Leonardo Gil reached on an error by the shortstop. On the play the ball simpley went through his legs, Crumbliss would score and the bases remained loaded. One out later, Stassi doubled ot right to score both House and Aliotti. Gilmartin followed with a single to right to score Gil. One more out later, Affinito hit a three run homer to left.

Jose Guzman came in for the ninth inning and tried to pull a Hector Almonte on the fans. With one out, Guzman singled up the middle One more out later, Logan Watkins walked. Matt Cerda then doubled to right to score both Guzman and Watkins. Rohan would walk. Bour reached on a droped third strike, wild pitch to load the bases. Jonathan Mota then walked to force in Cerda. Jones would reach on an error by the first baseman Aliotti. Rohan and Bour would score, with Jones getting to third. After that Max Peterson came in to relieve Guzman and got a grounder to end the game.


Next Game
5/10 @ Beloit, 6:30
Ian Krol (1-1, 2.67) vs Jhon Garcia (NR)

Saturday, May 8, 2010

5/8, Peoria 0, Cougars 5

Justin Marks had his best performance of the year for the Cougars, he went six innings of shutout ball. Giving up five hits while walking two and striking out five. Peoria would strand seven runners on base while facing Marks. The Cougars would beat the Peoria Chiefs 5-0.

Marks left two men on base in four of his six innings. The Chiefs would strike out looking three of the first four hitters of the game. The tried to bunt to get on and out of four times they singled once and got an error. None of them would score.

Bo Schultz then came on for two innings of relief and pitched very well. He gave up one runner, who reached on an error. schultz threw 19 pitches and got strikes with 18. Josh Lansford came in for the ninth and struggled a little, as he had trouble finding the strike zone, but he would give up only one hit and no runs.

The Cougars would get three runs in the first off of Jonathan Nagel. Nagel would last two third of an inning. Connor Crumbliss led off with a single to left center. Tyreace House then reched on an infield single to third. Anthony Aliotti would walk to load the bases. Leonardo Gil then walked to force in Crumbliss. One out later, Myrio Richard reached on a fielder's choice, on the play House would be out at home for the first out. Franklin Hernandez then blooped one into left to score both Aliotti and Gil. Mike Gilmartin then walked to reload the bases. The Chiefs then made a pitching change, bringin in Ryan Searle. He would get a force out of Gilmartin to end the inning.

Searle would pitch five and one thirds innings, giving up four hits and one run. His main problem was he walked five. The Cougars would leave eight men on base against him. Searle ended three innings with strike outs. The one run the Cougars would get against him would come in the sixth inning. With one out, Crumbliss singled to left center. House then reached on a fielder's choice, with Crumbliss being out at second. House then stole second, and Aliotti would walk. Gil then singled to left to score House.

The final run the Cougars would get came in the seventh inning. With one out, Hernandez doubled to center. On the play the centerfielder dove for the ball and missed. Gilmartin followed with a double off of the center field wall to score Hernandez.


Next Game
5/9 vs Peoria, 1pm
Su-Min Jung (4-0, 0.78) vs Rob Gilliam (1-1, 3.13)

Friday, May 7, 2010

5/7, Peoria 10, Cougars 5

Tonight just was not the Cougars night, as they would lose to the Peoria Chiefs 10-5. The Cougars gave up eight walks and hit two batters, plus gave up eleven hits to the Chiefs.

Peoria got off to a good start in the first off of new Cougar pitcher Kyle Christensen. With one out, Logan Watkins singled to right. Matt cerda then walked. Greg Rohan would follow with a double down the left field line. On the play Tyreace House dove and the ball got past him. Watkins and Cerda both scored. Justin Bour would single to left to get Rohan to third. Jonathan Mota would then hit a sacrifice fly to center to score Rohan.

Christensen would last into the fifth inning, he gave up six hits and six runs. he walked three and threw a wild pitch, and hit two batters. The Chiefs also scored a run in the third. Logan Watkins led off with a bunt single to first. Cerda then hit a fly to right center, neither fielder could find the ball and it fell. Rohan would then hit into a fielder's choice, with watkins being out at third. A wild pitch would bring home cerda. The other two runs that Christensen gave up came in the fifth inning. Cerda led off with a walk, then Rohan was hit by a pitch and Bour walked to load the bases with nobody out. The Cougars then brought in Max Peterson. Jonathan Mota would double to left center. Myrio Richard dove and missed, Cerda and Rohan both scored.

In the bottom of the inning the Cougars would score four times. Nino Leyja led off with a walk. Franklin Hernandez then singled to short, the ball hit off of the shortstops glove. Hernandez would be able to get to third on an error on the throw by the shortstop towards third. Leyja would score on the error. Mike Gilmartin then singled up the middle to score Hernandez. Connor Crumbliss would walk. The Chiefs then made a pitching change. One out after the change, Anthony Aliotti singled to left to score Gilmartin. Leonardo Gil would hit a sacrifice fly to center to score Crumbliss.

Max Stassi led off the sixth inning with a homer to center. After that the Cougars offense would dry up as they wouldn't score again.

In the seventh inning the Chiefs would score twice. Bour led off with a walk. One out later, D.J. Fitzgerald singled to center to score Bour. Richard Jones would then hit a double off of the right field wall to score Fitzgerald. With two outs in the eighth the Chiefs scored again. Rohan would get hit by a pitch. Bour then singled to center. Mota would single to right to score Rohan. The final run of the game came in the ninth, Richard Jones led off with a walk. One out later, Hak-Ju Lee walked. One out later, Matt Cerda reached on an error by Aliotti, Jones would score on the play.


Next Game
5/8 vs Peoria, 5pm
Jonathan Nagel (0-1, 3.60) vs Justin Marks (0-3, 9.13)
Web Statistics and Counters

Thursday, May 6, 2010

5/6, Cougars 7, Burlington 4

The Cougars have swept Burlington in all six games this year so far. They would win the finale of the three game series in Burlington, 7-4.

Dan Straily pitched well, he went six innings, giving up five hits and no runs. He walked one and struck out seven. He would pick up his third win of the season. He was really only in trouble twice in the game, in the fourth inning he gave up a one out double to Wil Myers, and a two out single to Carlo Testa. With runners on first and third, he would get Rene Oriental to fly to left to get out of it. In the fifth inning it would get harder. With one out, Ryan Wood singled to right. Adam Frost then singled to left. Straily then got the next two hitters to fly out to end the inning.

The Bees scored their four runs in the ninth inning off of Hector Garcia. Garcia came in after Bo Schultz had pitched two good innings. Schultz gave up only two walks and nothing else. Garcia led off the ninth by walking Testa. Oriental then singled to center and Fernando Cruz would walk also, to load the bases with nobody out. Ryan Wood grounded out to score Testa. Adam Frost then reached on a throwing error by Garcia. Oriental would score on the error. Hilton Richardson then reached on a throwing error by Nino Leyja at second. Cruz would score. A wild pitch would bring home Frost.

Kane County would score seven runs in the game, they walked five times, four of those walks would eventually score. They scored three runs in the fourth inning. Tyreace House led it off with a walk, then went to second on a balk. One out later, Anthony Aliotti walked. One out later, Leonardo Gil hit a three run homer to left centerfield. One more run for the Cougars in the fifth inning, Leyja led off with a single. Then Juan Nuenz doubled to center to score Leyja.

In the sixth inning with one out, Rashun Dixon walked. Gil then doubled to right, Dixon went to third. one out later, Leyja singled to left to score Dixon. Mike Gilmartin led off the seventh with a walk. One out later, Myrio Richard reached on an error by the first baseman. W wild pitch later, Gilmartin would score. The final run for the Cougars came in the ninth inning. Gilmartin led off with a double to right. One out later, Richard grounded out to score Gilmartin.


Next Game
5/7 Peoria, 7pm
TBA vs Trey McNutt (1-0, 1.57)

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

5/5, Cougars 6, Burlington 1

The Cougars would take the second game in the series against the Burlington Bees, 6-1. This means they have one the series, since they took the first game. Ian Krol pitched a great game and got lots of offensive support.

Krol pitched six innings giving up two hits and no runs. He gave up two walks and struck out four. The only chance the Bees had to score on him was in the fourth inning with runners on second and third with one out. Krol would get a pop out and a ground out to end the inning.

The offense came through tonight as they would score six runs on eleven hits. Anthony Aliotti led the way with three hits. Tyreace House, and Nino Leyja both had two hits.

The Cougars would take the lead in the second inning and never look back. With one out, Aliotti singled to left then stole second. One out later, Kent Walton singled up the middle to drive home Aliotti. The same combo would score the second run for the Cougars two innings later. This time Aliotti led off the inning with a double down the left field line. One out later, Walton hit a sacrifice fly to left to score Aliotti.

Three doubles in a row would score two runs in the sixth inning for the Cougars. With two outs, House doubled to right center. Myrio Richard then doubled to right to score House. Rashun Dixon would follow with a double to right center to score Richard. The Cougars scored one run in the seventh and one in the eighth also to end their scoring.

In the seventh inning with one out, Leonardo Gil pitch hit for Walton. Gil would be credited with a triple to left center. The left fielder misplayed the ball and should've been charged with an error on the play. Mike Gilmartin then put down a squeeze bunt to score Gil. In the eighth with one out, House singled to left center. One out later, Dixon walked and Aliotti then would single to left center to score House.

The Bees only run came off of releiver Jonathan Joseph in the seventh inning. With one out, Ryan Wood singled to center. Juan Graterol then doubled to right to score Wood.


Next Game
5/6 @ Burlington, 11:30 am
Dan Straily (2-1, 7.15) vs Tyler Sample (1-0, 4.81)

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

5/4, Cougars 3, Burlington 2 (13)

The Cougars would beat the Burlington Bees 3-2 in 13 innings to remain undefeated this year in four games. Rob Gilliam had his best outing of the year for the Cougars, he went eight innings and gave up one run.

In the 13th, Rashun Dixon led off with a walk. Leonardo Gil then hit a sacrifice bunt to move Dixon over. One out later, Max Stassi grounded one slowley to short, the short stop bobbled it slightly and Stassi beat the throw for a single. Mike Gilmartin followed with a single to center to drive home Dixon to give the Cougars the lead.

Gilliam was great, he went eight innings, giving up five hits and one run. He walked one and struck out seven. At one point he retired ten in a row in the middle of the game.

He did have to get out of some trouble though. In the secong inning with one out, Ray Oriental singled to right, then stole second and went to third on an error by Stassi. One out later, Ryan Wood walked. Gilliam would be able to get Adam Frost looking to end the inning. His best disapearing act came int he seventh. Joey Lewis led off with a double to left center. Oriental then blooped a single to right. Fernando Cruz would strike out for the first out of the inning. Gilliam then got Wood to ground one back to him, to get an inning ending double play.

The one run he gave up came in the eighth inning, Frost led off with a triple off of the right centerfield wall. Alan Caldwell then hit a sacrifice fly to left to score Frost. The only other run the Bees would score came in the ninth off of reliever Jose Guzman, who had just came for the save. Wil Myers walked on four pitches, then was balked to second. Two outs later, Fernando Cruz would double to right to score Myers to tie the game. Guzman would be able to only give up one run, because he would strike out Wood to get out of the inning.

The Cougars scored their first run of the game in the second inning, Max Stassi hit a homer to left. The other run the Cougars scored came in the seventh. With one out, Nino Leyja put down a bunt, the catcher got the ball and threw it into right field. Leyja would get to third on the play. Connor Crumbliss then hit a sacrifice fly to left to score Leyja to give the Cougars a two run lead.

In all the Cougars would get 14 hits off of Bees pitching. Nino Leyja and Max Stassi both had three hits apiece. Crumbliss had a sacrifice bunt and a sacrifice fly. Connor Hoehn did a nice job in relief of Guzman. He went two innings, giving up one hit and four strikeouts to get the win. The newest Cougar Max Peterson then came in an struck out the side in the 13th inning to pick up the save.


Next Game
5/5 @ Burlington, 6:30
Ian Krol (0-1, 3.43) vs Kelvin Herrera (2-0, 2.30)

Ryan Webb and Vince Mazzaro were recalled by the Padres and the A's respectivley. Sad news is that legendary broadcaster Ernie Harwell has passed away at 92.

Monday, May 3, 2010

5/3, Cougars 1, Cedar Rapids 8

The Cougars get swept by the Cedar Rapids Kernels in the four game series in Iowa. This time they lose 8-1. Today the Cougars only stranded six runners on base, but gave up two homers.

Justin Marks started for the Cougars and besides two bad innings didn't pitch that badly. He would go six innings for the first time this year, giving up eight hits and six runs. Five of those runs would be earned, he also walked one and struck out four. Marks would give up a leadoff homer in the first to Mike Trout.

In the third inning the Kernels would strike for two more runs. Casey Haerther led of by getting a walk. One out later, Marks would hit Trout. Ivan Contreras then doubled to left to score both Haerther and Trout. The trhwo home to try to get Trout was off line and leftfielder Kent Walton would get an error. On the throw Contreras tried to go to third and would be out.

Three more runs for the Kernels in the sixth inning off of Marks. With one out, Carlos Ramirez singled to right. Luis Jimenez then singled to third. Randall Grichuk then hit a three run homer to left to put the Kernels up 6-0.

The Cougars did score one run in the game, in the seventh inning Rashun Dixon hit a leadoff homer to left. They also had a few more chances in the game. In the fifth inning, Anthony Aliotti leadoff single to center. Max Stassi then hit into a double play. In the sixth inning, Tyreace House led off with a walk, he would then be picked off of first. The best chance came in the ninth, Dixon led off the inning with a single to center. Leonardo Gil then hit into a double play. After that, Aliotti and Stassi both singled to center. That would put runners on first and third with two outs. Franklin Hernandez would get caught looking to end the game.

Cedar Rapids had some good pitching today, their starter Tyler Skaggs pitched five innings of two hit ball. Tyler Kehrer then came in and pitched four innings, giving up five hits and one run.

Hector Garcia came in and pitched an inning and two thirds, he would give up five hits and two runs. In the eighth he would give up the Kernels final two runs. Jean Segura led off the inning with a single to right. One out later, Luis Jimenez tripled to center to score Segura. Grichuk then singled to right to score Jimenez.


Next Game
5/4 @ Burlington, 6:30
Rob Gilliam (1-1, 3.80) vs John Lamb (0-3, 2.45)

Sunday, May 2, 2010

5/2, Cougars 3, Cedar Rapids 6

This is a game that the team and it's fans would most like to forget. We lose the game, the starting pitcher and our centerfielder all in one day. Chris Mederos came out of the game after two hitters with an apparent shoulder injury. Myrio Richard was hit on his left hand by a pitch. That is the same hand that has a sore wrist. The Cougars lost the game 6-3 to the Cedar Rapids Kernels.

Things just did not go right from the begining for the Cougars as they would give up one run in the first and two in the third. Honestly it could've been worse too. In the first inning, Mederos walked Mike Trout to lead things off. Ivan Contreras then took two pitches from Mederos, then Ryan Quigbey came on an walked him. Jean Segura would bunt the runners over into scoring position. Jose Jimenez then hit a sacrifice fly to right to score Trout. A wild pitch would move Contreras to third, but Luis Jimenez would strike out to end the inning.

In the third inning, Trout led off with a long homerun to left. Contreras followed with a double down the left field line, and went to third on a wild pitch one out later. Jose Jimenez then hit another sacrifice fly to right to score Contreras.

Cedar Rapids was not done scoring, as they put another run on the board in the fifth inning of of Bo Schultz. With one out, Contreras walked, then stole second. One out later, Jose Jimenez was hit by a pitch. Luis Jimenez then blooped one to right to score Contreras. In the seventh they would striek again, this time with one out Contreras would get a standing triple off of the right field wall. Segura hit a sacrifice fly to right to score Contreras. The final run of the game for the Kernels came in the eighth inning with one out. Randall Grichuk hit a homer to center. Reliever Jose Guzman had to get out of some trouble in the inning as Eric Oliver followed with a bloop single to center, he would be pitch run for by Matt Long. One out later, Adam Younger singled to left to move Long to third. Trout flew out to right to end the inning.

Kane County did score three runs in the game, but as has been the case recently they came late in the game. The Cougars would score three runs in the eighth inning. Connor Crumbliss led off with a double to left center. Kent Walton followed with a double off of the left field wall to score Crumbliss. Richard would be hit by a pitch, with Franklin Hernandez coming in to run for him. The Kernels then made a pitching change with David Carpenter coming into replace reliever Jon Bachanov. Leonardo Gil hit a sacrifice fly to right to score Walton. Anthony Aliotti then singled to left center. Rashun Dixon then singled up the middle to load the bases. One out later, Gilmartin would be hit by a pitch to force in Hernandez. Tyreace House would strike out to end the inning.

The Cougars, who lead the league in runners left on base per game, left nine more on base today. In the second inning with two outs, Rashun Dixon walked, Max Stassi then singled to right. Mike Gilmartin would strand them after an inning ending fly out. In the third inning with one out, Crumbliss singled to left center, then went to second on a wild pitch. One out later, Richard walked, Gil would pop out to strand the two runners on. In the fifth inning, Gilmartin led off with a single to first. Crumbliss then singled to left. This time Walton would hit into an inning ending double play.

With one out in the sixth, Gil walked, then Aliotti hit into an inning ending double play. In the seventh inning, Dixon led off with a walk, he would get to second on a wild pitch. One out later, Gilmartin flew to center and Dixon went to third. House would ground out to end the inning.

Next Game
5/3 @ Cedar Rapids, Noon
Justin Marks (0-2, 9.72) vs Tyler Skaggs (0-1, 0.64)

Saturday, May 1, 2010

5/1, Cougars 8, Cedar Rapids 11

Well, what a diffrence between todays game and last nights game. Last night the Cougars were no hit by the Kernels. Today there were a combined 19 runs and 20 hits, with three Cougar errors. The Cougars would lose 11-8, and are now 1-4 against the Kernels on the year. The funny thing is the Cougars scored four times in the first, and then four times in the ninth and that is it.

The Cougars offense came alive int he first inning with those four runs. Connor Crumbliss led off the game with a double to center. One out later, he would move to third on a wild pitch, as Rashun Dixon walked. Anthony Aliotti singled to right to score Crumbliss. Leonardo Gil then hit a three run homer to right field.

Dan Straily did not have a good day against the Cedar Rapids Kernels. He lasted into the third inning, giving up nine runs on seven hits. He walked three and struck out one. He also gave up two homers and hit a batter. In the first inning he was spotted four runs by the offense, then gave them right back in the bottom of the inning. Mike Trout led off by being hit by a pitch. Ivan Contreras walked. Two outs later, Luis Jimenez singled to left to score Trout. Randal Grichuk then hit a three run homer to left.

Two more runs for the Kernels in the second inning. Eric Oliver led off with a double to right. Adam Younger would reach on a fielder's choice, with Oliver being out at second. Mike Trout then reached on a force out of Younger at second. He would then steal second. Contreras doubled to center to score Trout. Jean Segura would then double to center to score Contreras.

It got even worse for the Cougars in the third inning as the Kernels would score three more times against Straily. With two outs, Jose Jimenez walked. Oliver then singled to right. Adam Younger would hit a three run homer to left to put the Kernels up 9-4 after three innings.

The saving grace for the Cougars was the pitching of Connor Hoehn. He came in to relieve Straily in the third and pitched three and one thirds innings. He gave up one hit and struck out three. The one hit was a one out triple to Trout in the sixth. A strike out and a ground out later, Trout would still be at third.

Hector Garcia didn't have as good of a day. He would come in to replace Hoehn in the seventh. He would go two innings, giving up three hits and two runs. He walked one and struck out five. His only problem was the seventh, the eighth he pitched perfectly. With one out in the seventh, Luis Jimenez doubled to left. Grichuk would then single to center to score Jimenez. A passed ball on catcher Juan Nunez and a wild pitch on Garcia would put Grichuk at third. Jose Jimenez then reached on an error by first baseman Anthony Aliotti. Grichuk would score ont he play and Jimenez got to second. Eric Oliver then singled to center, Jimenez went to third and Oliver would make second on a throwing error by centerfielder Myrio Richard. After that Garcia would be able to strike out Younger for the second out. He walked Trout, which loaded the bases. Ivan Contreras would strike out looking to let Garcia off of the hook.

The other big inning for the Cougars came in the ninth inning when they made a game out of it. Aliotti led off with a double to center. Leonardo Gil then walked, a wild pitch by Kernel reliever Buddy Boshers would move both runners into scoring position. Franklin Hernandez followed with a double to right to score Aliotti. Juan Nunez then singled to center to score Gil. Chris Affinito hit a sacrifice fly to right to score Hernandez. Mike Gilmartin then singled to right adn Crumbliss walked to reload the bases. Cedar Rapids then made a pitching change bringin in Johnny Hellweg. Richard would hit a sacrifice fly to right to score Nunez. Dixon then walked to load the bases, but Hellweg ended the game with a groundout by Aliotti.


Next Game
5/2 @ Cedar Rapids, 2pm
Chris Mederos (2-1, 1.50) vs Orangel Arenas (0-4, 3.57)