Cougars Relinquish Lead as Burlington Mounts Shocking Comeback
August 6, 2017 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Kane County Cougars News Release
BURLINGTON, IA. --- In a jarring defeat, the Kane County Cougars (21-21, 60-49) see their three-game win streak come to an end in a 15-6 decision to the Burlington Bees (16-26, 47-64). Burlington's final 13 runs scored were unanswered. Despite the Cougars holding a lead for most of the game, the Bees stormed back for a seven-run seventh, and six-run eighth against five different Cougars pitchers. The Cougars still a chance to claim a winning road trip with a win on Sunday afternoon.
Contributions up and down the lineup have provided examples of the Cougars offensive success. Tonight was no different as catcher David Sopilka drove in the game's first run in the third inning. With Manny Jefferson aboard, Sopilka's double did the damage against right-hander Connor Riley 0-0). And in the fourth, Connor Owings came up with a two-out RBI single boosting the Cougars' lead to 2-0.
In the fifth and sixth innings the Cougars opened up the ball game, pushing the lead to 6-1. Taking advantage of a Burlington error, a mishandled grounder off the bat of Ramon Hernandez scored the first tally of the frame. Thereafter, Eudy Ramos and Yan Sanchez plugged RBI base hits. And in the seventh, Hernandez left the yard for his eighth home run of the season.
But Burlington fought back to take the lead posting a run in the sixth and a whopping seven runs in the seventh. In a shocking comeback, the Bees mounted the comeback against right-handers Emilio Vargas (5-4), losing hurler Mitch Aker (0-2), and Trevor Simms (1-1). The Bees capped of the massive inning with a three-run homer from Richard Fecteau to take a 9-6 lead.
Burlington was not finished. The Bees posted six more runs in their half of the eighth. The inning included three walks and three hit batters issued by Cougars pitching. Fecteau was at it again with a two-RBI base hit as Julian Leon bashed a three-run homer.
Out of the bullpen, righty Zac Ryan (1-0) picked up the win for Burlington. Sunday at 2:00 P.M. CST, the Cougars play game two of the series in Burlington. On the mound for the Cougars, righty Connor Grey (0-1, 5.40 ERA) takes on a to be determined starter for Burlington. The pre-game radio coverage begins at 1:45 CST on AM 1280 WBIG and kccougars.com.
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