Cougars' Hit Parade Ends in 11th-Inning Win
July 23, 2016 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Lansing Lugnuts News Release
LANSING, Mich. - The Kane County Cougars (10-19, 43-56) stranded 15 runners through the first nine innings before defeating the Lansing Lugnuts (16-13, 52-47) in the eleventh inning, 3-2, on a Matt Railey sacrifice fly before a Saturday night crowd of 7,151 at Cooley Law School Stadium.
The Cougars amassed 21 base runners on one error, three walks and 17 base hits - the last a leadoff triple by Austin Byler to open the eleventh inning against reliever Ryan Cook (Loss, 1-6).
Railey, who entered the game as a pinch-runner for DH Trevor Mitsui in the ninth, followed with a deep fly to left-center, easily plating Byler for the decisive run.
The win did not come easily for the visitors. In the bottom of the eleventh, Juan Kelly (3-for-4, double, RBI, walk) led off with a single to right field. One out later, Justin Atkinson (2-for-5) dropped a bloop double down the right field line to put the tying and winning runs in scoring position.
But Hector Hernandez (Win, 1-0) set down Ryan Hissey on a bouncer to short, the runners forced to hold their positions, and Keegan Long (Save, 6) ended the game by inducing Ryan Metzler to fly out to right.
The Lugnuts' record fell to 2-8 in the second half against the Western Division.
Starter Justin Maese weaved through constant trouble in five innings, allowing ten hits and a walk but just one first-inning run.
Lansing grabbed a 2-1 lead in the third inning, thanks to a solo home run from Andrew Guillotte and an RBI double from Kelly. Kane County tied the score in the seventh on a Joey Armstrong RBI double off Kirby Snead, and the battle of bullpens commenced.
In the loss, Lansing right fielder Connor Panas went 0-for-5, ending his 17-game on-base streak.
The second game of the three-game series will be held at 2:05 p.m. Sunday, featuring Lansing Lugnuts right-hander Jordan Romano (1-1, 1.09) opposite Kane County Cougars lefty Emilio Vargas (1-4, 4.83). It's Princesses and Pirates Day at Cooley Law School Stadium, a special Kids Day presented by Delta Dental! Play Catch on the Field before the game and Kids Run the Bases after the game.
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