Cougars Flirt with No-Hitter, Can't Sweep Clinton
April 15, 2006 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Kane County Cougars News Release
Clinton, IA - The Kane County Cougars took a 1-0 lead and a no-hitter into the bottom of the sixth inning Saturday night against the Clinton LumberKings but later fell 4-1 in the series finale at Alliant Energy Field. Starter Jason Ray pitched 5 2/3 innings of no-hit ball but suffered the tough-luck loss. Jeff Baisley belted his third home run in two games to supply the Cougars' offense. Despite the loss, the Cougars return home after winning the three-game set.
Baisley homered off Clinton starter Omar Proveda to lead off the second inning, and the run held up for most of the game behind Ray's stellar pitching. The right-hander struck out five batters in the first three innings -- including four in a row at one point -- and got out of a jam after an error in the third. He sent down six consecutive batters before problems arrived in the sixth. Ray walked three batters, two of which came around to score after another Cougars error and a run-scoring hit by Clinton's Freddie Thon.
Trailing 2-1, the Cougars got solid relief from John Herrera and Ron Madej but couldn't manage any offensive threats against reliever Broc Coffman. Steve Sharpe gave up a pair of eighth-inning runs for the 4-1 final. Ray (0-1) suffered the loss from two unearned runs, walking three and fanning seven. Coffman (2-0) nailed down the win for the LumberKings.
The Cougars (6-4) return to action Monday night at 6 CDT to begin a four-game series at Elfstrom Stadium against the defending Midwest League champion South Bend Silver Hawks. Trey Shields (1-1) is scheduled to pitch against Eduardo Baez (1-0).
Midwest League Stories from April 15, 2006
- Swing Take Series with 2-1 Win - Peoria Chiefs
- Cougars Flirt with No-Hitter, Can't Sweep Clinton - Kane County Cougars
- Bees Blank Beloit to Win Series over Snappers - Burlington Bees
- Kernels complete sweep of Rattlers with 5-3 win - Cedar Rapids Kernels
- Lugnuts Win Thriller - Lansing Lugnuts
- Fort Wayne Shocks Dayton with Five in the Eighth to win 5-4 - Dayton Dragons
- Devil Rays Blanked by Whitecaps - Southwest Michigan Devil Rays
- Cedar Rapids sweeps Rattlers - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
- West Michigan moves above .500 with second shutout of week - West Michigan Whitecaps
- Pitcher Poveda Joins LumberKings - Clinton LumberKings
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