Cougars Rally Again to Pass \'Caps
Published on May 25, 2009 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Kane County Cougars News Release
GENEVA, Ill. - For the second game in a row, the Kane County Cougars erased an early deficit against the West Michigan Whitecaps and rallied to victory, this time claiming a 6-4 finish in front of 6,397 fans at Elfstrom Stadium. Steve Kleen belted a three-run homer in the bottom of the seventh to give the Cougars a lead they never gave back. They finished their six-game home stand at 4-2, won their seventh home series in eight tries and increased their lead atop the Western Division to three games.
The Cougars trailed 4-3 entering the bottom of the seventh. Jason Christian walked and took second on a bunt, and Dusty Coleman walked. That set up the heroics by Kleen, who went deep off Jared Gayhart to make it 6-4. It was just the third Cougars homer in the last 13 games but proved to be the difference in the contest.
West Michigan got four runs off starter Anthony Capra in the second inning but never scored again. Capra lasted five innings, yielded six hits, walked three and fanned six. He left in line for a loss but ended with a no-decision. Trey Barham (1-0) won his Cougars debut with two scoreless innings, Justin Murray worked the eighth and saw the minimum and Mickey Storey saved his third. Those three relievers gave up just one hit over four frames.
Christian tripled home Juan Nunez in the second to give the Cougars their first run, and Matt Ray followed with a run-scoring grounder. Then Grant Desme singled and scored on a Jeremy Barfield bouncer in the sixth to make it 4-3 and set up Kleen for the seventh.
The Cougars (27-17) now hit the road for a 10-game, 11-day trip that starts Tuesday night at 6:05 CDT against the Great Lakes Loons. Shawn Haviland (3-1, 2.49) will face Nathan Eovaldi (1-4, 7.36).
Midwest League Stories from May 25, 2009
- Loons Prevail in Road Trip Finale - Great Lakes Loons
- Younger's double in the ninth rallies Kernels past Lansing, 6-5 - Cedar Rapids Kernels
- Wisconsin Wins First Road Series - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
- Kernels Come Back, Walk-Off Lugnuts, 6-5 - Lansing Lugnuts
- Bees Lose By Ten in Series Finale with Dragons - Burlington Bees
- Dragons Pound Burlington, Go 8-2 on Trip - Dayton Dragons
- Cougars Rally Again, Best Whitecaps 6-4 - West Michigan Whitecaps
- Cougars Rally Again to Pass âCaps - Kane County Cougars
- Chiefs Rained Out Monday - Peoria Chiefs
- Monday's Game Cancelled Due to Rain - South Bend Silver Hawks
- Kelch Wins 2nd Annual Operation Santa Race at O'Brien Field - Peoria Chiefs
- Huggins Activated - Lansing Lugnuts
- Dominant Closer Mulligan Earns Promotion - Quad Cities River Bandits
- Desme Delivers, Cougars Edge âCaps - West Michigan Whitecaps
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