Cougars walk off to snap losing skid
July 27, 2009 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Kane County Cougars News Release
GENEVA, Ill. - Leonardo Gil delivered an RBI single in the bottom of the ninth Monday night to lift the Kane County Cougars to a 3-2, walk-off victory over the Dayton Dragons in front of 7,329 at Elfstrom Stadium. The victory snapped the Cougars' six-game losing streak and helped them avoid what would have been their first losing home stand of six-plus games since at least 1996.
The Cougars trailed, 1-0, in the bottom of the third when Mike Spina launched a two-run homer off Oscar Castro to put the Cougars ahead, 2-1, their first lead in 58 innings. Starter Kenny Smalley left in line for a victory. He gave up one unearned run over five innings, scattered six hits, walked three and fanned two. His streak of consecutive quality starts ended at five, but he lowered his league-best ERA from 1.99 to 1.88. He has not allowed an earned run in his last 18 innings.
The 2-1 lead remained until the ninth inning, as Josue Selenis and Daniel Thomas had tossed scoreless relief. Justin Murray (3-1) had the Dragons down to their final strike in the top of the ninth before Josh Fellhauer hit a solo homer to stun the crowd and tie it, 2-2. That set up the Cougars' response against Jordan Hotchkiss (1-4) in the bottom half. Jeremy Barfield got hit by a pitch and was bunted to second by Dusty Napoleon. After Chris Berroa walked, Gil singled to right to bring home to Barfield and end the losing streak. It was the Cougars' seventh walk-off win of the season.
The Cougars (14-16, 55-45) begin a 10-game road trip, their longest of the season, on Tuesday night at 6:35 CDT in Iowa with the start of a three-game set against the Cedar Rapids Kernels (17-12, 57-42). Anvioris Ramirez (0-0, 0.00) will face Manaurys Correa (6-5, 3.96).
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Midwest League Stories from July 27, 2009
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- Bees win to take series from TinCaps - Burlington Bees
- Cougars walk off to snap losing skid - Kane County Cougars
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- Lugnuts Sweep Snappers, 10-1 - Lansing Lugnuts
- Dragons and the Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Team Up for 'Home Run For Life' - Dayton Dragons
- Nolan Brannon joins Kernels from Orem - Cedar Rapids Kernels
- Crosby Named MWL Pitcher of the Week - West Michigan Whitecaps
- Dragons Gameday July 27th - Dayton Dragons
- Whitecaps Welcome Burlington to Town - West Michigan Whitecaps
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