Cougars' Early Deficit Too Much to Overcome

September 2, 2005 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Kane County Cougars News Release

Geneva IL - The Kane County Cougars trailed 3-0 before they had even come to the plate on Friday night against the Cedar Rapids Kernels, who handed the Cougars a 4-2 defeat in front of 6,844 fans at Elfstrom Stadium. The Cougars entered the game tied with Beloit for the wild card spot in the Western Division playoff race. There are now three regular-season games remaining.

Cougars starter Tony Evans allowed a run-scoring double to Michael Collins and a two-run homer to Drew Toussaint in the first inning for the quick 3-0 deficit. Sean Rodriguez went deep in the third for a 4-0 game. Then Evans settled down to last seven innings, give up the four runs on six hits, walk none and strike out 10.

Myron Leslie's sacrifice fly in the fourth off Kernels lefty Gustavo Espinoza scored Luis Perez for an unearned tally and a 4-1 game. Tommy Everidge cracked a solo home run in the sixth for a 4-2 count that became the final. Kane County had more hits than Cedar Rapids and got two scoreless relief innings from Jared Trout but never got a clutch hit to erase the deficit. Evans (6-6) took the loss, Espinoza (1-0) won his Kernels debut and Miguel Gonzalez saved his eighth game.

The Cougars (34-33) and Kernels (34-33) play game two of the series on Saturday night at 5 CDT. Joe Scott (5-2, 4.44) takes the mound against right-hander Francisco Cordova (4-5, 4.37) for Cedar Rapid

Midwest League Stories from September 2, 2005

• Snappers Crush Timber Rattlers, Get Closer to Playoffs - Beloit Sky Carp
• Beloit blasts Timber Rattlers - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
• Cougars' Early Deficit Too Much to Overcome - Kane County Cougars
• D-Rays hold off Swing - Quad Cities River Bandits
• Whitecaps rally past Lugnuts in series opener - Lansing Lugnuts
• Offense at Full Strength for Second Consecutive Night in 9-3 Win - Dayton Dragons
• Last minute comeback is enough for the win - West Michigan Whitecaps
• Devil Rays beat last year's attendance in 5-4 win - Southwest Michigan Devil Rays
• Steik comes off DL, Polanco promoted - Fort Wayne TinCaps
• Everidge Returns, Tharpe Inactived - Kane County Cougars
• Lugnuts asking fans to pitch in for victims of Hurricane Katrina - Lansing Lugnuts
• L-Kings defeat Bees - Clinton LumberKings

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