Cougars' Comeback Falls Short on Play at Plate

July 30, 2005 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Kane County Cougars News Release

Geneva, IL - The Kane County Cougars trailed the Swing of the Quad Cities 7-2 entering the bottom of the ninth inning Saturday night and rallied to score four times, but pinch-runner Ryan Ruiz was thrown out at the plate trying to tie the game. The close play resulted in a heartbreaking 7-6 loss in front of 13, 027 fans at Elfstrom Stadium.

Cougars starter Mike Rogers, in his first outing back from the disabled list, allowed two runs in each of the first three innings for an early 6-0 deficit, but the bullpen trio of Shawn Martinez, Derek Tharpe and Tomas Cabaniel eked away from jams the rest of the way. The Cougars didn't get a hit off Swing starter Phillip Andersen until the fourth inning and had only three base knocks heading to the eighth. Gregorio Petit homered off reliever Cory Meacham to cut it to 6-1, and Cliff Pennington doubled and scored from Tommy Everidge's grounder for a 6-2 score.

Cabaniel gave up an unearned run in the top of the ninth for a 7-2 affair heading to the Cougars' final chance. Nick Blasi singled, and Petit drew a one-out walk. After a strikeout, Luis Perez doubled down the left field line off Meacham to bring in the runners and make it 7-4. Javier Herrera then singled off Jason Cairns to plate Perez for a 7-5 nail biter. Everidge, who tripled and scored the game-winning run in the 13th inning Friday night, brought the Cougars within one at 7-6 after smacking a double to bring in Herrera from first. Ruiz entered to run for Everidge and raced for the dish on Myron Leslie's single to right but was tagged just before his body nicked home plate, giving the Cougars a dramatic, agonizing defeat.

Rogers (5-6) took the loss, and Andersen (3-1) grabbed the win. Cairns notched his eighth save. Game three of the series is Sunday night at 6 CDT. Tony Evans (5-2, 2.81) will pitch for the Cougars (17-19) against right-hander Michael Cooper (0-0, 2.00) for the Swing (22-14).

Midwest League Stories from July 30, 2005

• Kernels hit the Taco Bell 10-spot - Cedar Rapids Kernels
• With Casilla's help Kernels finally slay Dragons - Cedar Rapids Kernels
• Lugnuts spin shutout of Silver Hawks, 5-0 - Lansing Lugnuts
• Crist Goes the Distance in Bees Win - Burlington Bees
• Casilla, Collins and Gelinas Lead Kernels Past Dayton, 11-7 - Dayton Dragons
• Cougars' Comeback Falls Short on Play at Plate - Kane County Cougars
• Woodard Powers Snappers - Beloit Sky Carp
• Swing cut down Cougars - Quad Cities River Bandits
• Crist pitches a gem against Wisconsin - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
• Record crowd sees near-miss by the Whitecaps - West Michigan Whitecaps
• Hawks Shutout By Lugnuts - South Bend Silver Hawks
• Chiefs win 12-2 - Peoria Chiefs
• Rob and Rog Swap Spots - Kane County Cougars
• Box Seats Limited for Tonight!! Get Them in Advance - Beloit Sky Carp
• Tampa Bay's second round pick comes to SWM - Southwest Michigan Devil Rays

The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Other Recent Kane County Cougars Stories

• Cougars Combine for No-Hitter and Take Series against Saltdogs
• Cougars Drop Heartbreaker in the 11th Inning
• Cougars Take Series Opener Against Saltdogs 3-1
• Cougars Steal Series in Extras against Goldeyes
• Cougars and Goldeyes Split Doubleheader to Start Series