Cougars Even Series with Quad Cities

September 6, 2009 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Kane County Cougars News Release

GENEVA, Ill. - Mathieu Leblanc-Poirier posted his second straight quality start, and Franklin Hernandez knocked out three hits and scored twice Sunday night as the Kane County Cougars cruised past the Quad Cities River Bandits, 4-1, in front of 7,830 at Elfstrom Stadium. The Cougars have won 10 of their last 14 games and can win the set Monday afternoon in the series and regular-season finale before the playoffs begin Wednesday.

The Cougars jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the second inning against Jorge Rondon (1-5) and never looked back. Hernandez tripled home Tyler Ladendorf and scored on a fielder's choice by Leonardo Gil. Leblanc-Poirier (5-7) yielded his only run in the third but settled down to last six innings. He scattered five hits, walked three and fanned four in the win.

The Cougars tacked on unearned runs in the fourth and seventh to account for the 4-1 final, and Trey Barham logged three innings of scoreless relief to post his second save. The victory was the Cougars' 40th home win of the season, marking the seventh time in 19 seasons a Cougars team won 40-plus at Elfstrom Stadium.

The Cougars (34-35, 74-64) and River Bandits (31-37, 61-77) conclude the regular season Monday afternoon at 1 CT. Scott Deal (1-3, 3.57) will make a spot start and oppose Shelby Miller (0-0, 0.00). Then the Cougars are off Tuesday and begin post-season play Wednesday against the Burlington Bees in a best-of-three opening round matchup.

Midwest League Stories from September 6, 2009

• Kernels win sloppy game, 5-3 - Cedar Rapids Kernels
• Cougars Even Series with Quad Cities - Kane County Cougars
• Bandits Streak Ends - Quad Cities River Bandits
• Pugh Dominates Timber Rattlers - Beloit Sky Carp
• Rattlers Fall to Snappers - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
• Bees Lose To Even Series with Kernels - Burlington Bees
• TinCaps to Face South Bend in Playoffs - Fort Wayne TinCaps
• Loons Pound Dragons Again - Great Lakes Loons
• Dragons Race for Playoffs Ends on Sunday - Dayton Dragons
• Chavez, Lugnuts Outslug Silver Hawks, 11-10 - Lansing Lugnuts
• Hawks Playoff Bound Despite Loss - South Bend Silver Hawks
• TinCaps Shut Down Whitecaps Again - West Michigan Whitecaps
• TinCaps Blank Whitecaps, 6-0 - Fort Wayne TinCaps
• Bees shut out Kernels, 4-0 - Cedar Rapids Kernels
• Chiefs Snap Two Game Skid, Collect 80th Win of Season - Peoria Chiefs
• Snappers Break Out the Sticks - Beloit Sky Carp

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