MWL1 Kane County Cougars

Cougars Get Even with Snappers

April 22, 2014 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Kane County Cougars News Release


GENEVA, Ill.--- Tuesday's game at Fifth Third Bank Ballpark featured a pitchers' duel in the beginning of the contest, followed by late offense by both teams. The Cougars (12-6) banked on that solid starting pitching to even the series against the Snappers (7-11) and pick up their first win of the home stand 5-4.

It took the Cougars four innings to figure out Kyle Finnegann, but once they did they made him pay. Carlos Penalver recorded the first Cougar hit leading off the fourth with a double. Two batters later, Yasiel Balaguert doubled home Penalver for the first run of the ballgame. A single by Jacob Rogers pushed Balaguert to third base and David Bote brought Balguert around with another two-bagger making it a 2-0 Cougar lead.

The Cougars threatened more in the fifth, but only had one run to show for it. After a walk and a single, Penalver sacrificed Trey Martin and Jake Hannemann to second and third. Ben Carhart's single plated Martin for a 3-0 Cougars' lead. Balaguert then forced a walk to load the bases, but a strikeout and a groundout killed the rally.

Paul Blackburn had some troubling innings against the Snappers, but never allowed a run until the sixth. Blackburn returned to the mound and BA Vollmuth greeted him with a solo homerun to left field for the first Sanpper score. After Tyler Marincov flew out, Mark Johnson went with his bullpen beginning with Nathan Dorris. The left-handed pitcher allowed the Snappers to get within one run as Ryan Huck grounded out to bring home Jaycob Brugman.

After Beloit's rally on Monday, insurance runs felt seemed important for the Cougars and they added two in the eighth. Stuart Pudenz and Lee Sosa struggled on the mound, combined for five walks in the inning and allowing the Cougars to score a pair. Hannemann drew a free pass with the bases loaded and Penalver hit a sacrifice fly to right field to bring home Daniel Lockhart, making it a 5-3 lead for the Cougars.

Jose Arias came on in the ninth for a chance to earn his second save, but the Snappers wouldn't go quietly. Arias walked the first batter before striking out a pair to come within one out of a victory. The right-hander failed to record that out as he walked Boog Powell and gave up singles to BJ Boyd and BA Vollmuth to bring the Snappers within one at a 5-4 Cougars' lead. Johnson went with another pitching change as he brought in Zack Godley to close the deal. Godley struck out Marincov looking and finalized it a Cougars' victory.

Blackburn (2-0) worked five and one-third innings only allowing one run, five hits, two walks and no strikeouts. Finnegann (1-1) didn't allow a base hit until the fourth, but was charged with three earned runs through four and two-third innings with two walks and three strikeouts. Godley picked up his third save with just one-third of an inning.

The Cougars and Snappers will conclude the series on Wednesday from Fifth Third Bank Ballpark at 11:00 a.m. Tyler Skulina (1-0, 3.78) takes the mound for the Cougars against Beloit's Dylan Covey (0-2, 5.71). Tickets can be purchased by calling (630) 232-8811 and kccougars.com.

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Midwest League Stories from April 22, 2014


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