Cougars blanked in Battle Creek

September 1, 2005 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Kane County Cougars News Release

Battle Creek, MI - The Kane County Cougars fell 2-0 on Thursday night in the series finale against the Southwest Michigan Devil Rays at C.O. Brown Stadium. The Cougars entered the game with a one-game lead for the second playoff spot in the Western Division but managed only three hits to finish their final road trip of the regular season with a loss. Mike Rogers lasted six innings and gave up the two runs in the tough-luck loss.

Rogers allowed a pair of two-out, run-scoring singles to the Devil Rays, one in the opening frame for a 1-0 affair and the other in the second frame for the 2-0 score that remained for the final. Cliff Pennington got the first Cougars hit off James Houser with an infield knock in the fourth but was stranded after stealing second. Kane County threatened in the seventh and eighth, but inning-ending double plays quelled those chances. Then Ryan Ruiz led off the ninth with a single before two strikeouts and a grounded ended the game.

Rogers (6-8) walked two and fanned seven in his six innings, and Derek Tharpe and J.R. Pickens wiggled out of jams in relief to give the Cougars' offense a chance. Houser (8-8) lasted six frames for the Southwest Michigan victory, and Richard DeLosSantos notched his third save.

The Cougars (34-32) now return to Elfstrom Stadium for a four-game series against the Cedar Rapids Kernels that begins Friday night at 6:30 CDT. Both squads will be fighting for a postseason berth with just four regular-season games remaining. Tony Evans (6-5, 4.16) takes the mound for the Cougars against left-hander Gustavo Espinoza, who makes his Kernels debut.

Midwest League Stories from September 1, 2005

• Kernels split series with Swing but remain alive in playoff race - Cedar Rapids Kernels
• LumberKings play spoiler on Fan Appreciation Night - Burlington Bees
• Snappers win, regain upper hand In playoff race - Beloit Sky Carp
• Going out with a bang - Dayton Dragons
• Stavinoha's home run seals Swing win - Quad Cities River Bandits
• Lugnuts do their part, but Devil Ray win ends playoff hopes - Lansing Lugnuts
• Cougars blanked in Battle Creek - Kane County Cougars
• September starts with a bang - West Michigan Whitecaps
• Dragons maul Rattlers - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
• Houser pitches Devil Rays into playoffs - Southwest Michigan Devil Rays
• Midwest League Playoffs 101 - Beloit Sky Carp
• Kernels to make presentation to American Red Cross - Cedar Rapids Kernels
• Chiefs to Raise Money for Hurrican Relief Efforts - Peoria Chiefs
• Devil Rays set to host a jersey auction - Southwest Michigan Devil Rays
• Wizards have saved the best for last - Fort Wayne TinCaps
• Cougars fight for last playoff spot - Kane County Cougars
• L-Kings fall to Bees - Clinton LumberKings

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