MWL1 Kane County Cougars

Cougars lose heartbreaker

Published on June 27, 2008 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Kane County Cougars News Release


PEORIA, IL - The Kane County Cougars opened a four-game series in Peoria on Friday night and were left with a stunning, heartbreaking 8-7 loss against the Chiefs in front of 3,750 at O'Brien Field. The Cougars hit four homers in the game, saw their manager get ejected and withstood a near-brawl but eventually blew a 7-5 lead in the bottom of the ninth. They've lost three in a row and are under .500 (4-5) for the first time all season.

Starter Jamie Richmond gave up two runs in the bottom of the first, and after Jake Smith launched his first homer of the season in the second, the Chiefs added a controversial one of their own in the third. The umpires ruled that Nate Samson's drive to left hit the wall and came back in play but then changed their call, leading to an argument and ejection from Cougars manager Aaron Nieckula. Richmond hit the next batter, and both teams left their dugout but restrained from fighting.

The Cougars took over offensively after the tempers flared. Larry Cobb and Corey Brown hit back-to-back homers in the fourth to tie it, 3-3, and Adam Klein hit a two-run shot -- his first pro homer -- in the fifth, Cobb doubled home Justin Frash and Smith connected for a sacrifice fly for a 7-3 Cougars lead.

The Chiefs scored twice in the fifth against Richmond, who left after seven-plus innings and gave up five runs -- four earned -- on seven hits in a no-decision. Justin Friend (3-4) took over in the eighth and yielded all three runs in the ninth. The Cougars were one strike from victory when Samson tied it with a single, and the game ended on a Frash throwing error with Samson scoring all the way from first.

The Cougars (4-5) and Chiefs (4-5) continue their series Saturday night at 6:30 CT when Tyson Ross (0-0, 0.00) faces Audy Santana (0-4, 3.72).

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Midwest League Stories from June 27, 2008


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