Cougars build lead, beat devil rays

Published on June 5, 2006 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Kane County Cougars News Release

Geneva, IL - The Kane County Cougars used two RBIs apiece from Jeff Baisley and Anthony Recker and seven innings from starter Vince Mazzaro to beat the Southwest Michigan Devil Rays 7-6 on Monday night in front of 5,477 fans at Elfstrom Stadium. A four-run first inning gave the Cougars a lead they never relinquished, as they won the series and claimed their 15th win in the last 19 games.

Baisley extended his hitting streak to 16 games with a first-inning single off D-Rays starter Mike Wlodarczyk that scored Nick Blasi for a quick 1-0 lead. Anthony Recker followed with a two-run smash and later scored on an error for the 4-0 cushion.

Mazzaro allowed two tallies in the second but settled down to face the minimum over the next four innings. A two-run third inning, bolstered by a Justin Sellers RBI single, provided a 6-2 lead after three frames. Then Baisley brought home Blasi in the sixth to bring his RBI total to 57, the most in the minor leagues, and give the Cougars a 7-2 lead.

Mazzaro (6-4) gave up a final run in the seventh and left afterward, picking up his team-leading sixth win and third in four starts. He allowed three runs on seven hits, walked one and struck out three. Dan Fyvie tossed a scoreless eighth, and Steve Sharpe wobbled in the ninth to give up three runs before closing out the game, 7-6. Wlodarczyk (5-2) took the loss for the visitors.

The Cougars (35-22) now embark on their final road trip of the first half, an eight-game swing to Wisconsin and Burlington. Tuesday night's game against the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers is set for 7:05 CDT. Jeff Gray (2-4, 5.77) will face Ruben Flores (0-4, 6.10).

Midwest League Stories from June 5, 2006

• Prosise-ly placed homer leads Rattlers to victory - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
• Cougars build lead, beat devil rays - Kane County Cougars
• Justice smacks walk-off hit, Swing commits six errors - West Michigan Whitecaps
• Cougars comeback falls short - Kane County Cougars
• Swing lose in extras, streak ends at six - Quad Cities River Bandits
• Chiefs drop third straight to Wizards 6-2 - Peoria Chiefs
• Dragons come all the way back, lose in 10 - Dayton Dragons
• SilverHawks take series over Lugnuts - South Bend Silver Hawks
• Hawks take three of four from Lansing - South Bend Silver Hawks
• McCormick Placed on DL - Quad Cities River Bandits
• Chiefs Add Outfielder Carter - Peoria Chiefs
• It's Macker Time - West Michigan Whitecaps
• Hundley activated from DL - Fort Wayne TinCaps
• Padres to hold tryout camp at Memorial Stadium - Fort Wayne TinCaps
• Billek Promoted to Daytona - Peoria Chiefs

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