Cougars, Shields struggle against Bees

April 11, 2006 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Kane County Cougars News Release

Geneva IL - The Kane County Cougars entered Tuesday night's game with the Burlington Bees fresh off a come-from-behind win Monday night and with their Opening Day starter Trey Shields on the mound, but the Bees scored early and kept the Cougars in check late, handing Kane County a 6-3 defeat at Elfstrom Stadium. Shields gave up two runs in the second, another pair in the second and a final tally in the fourth for a 5-0 deficit. Frank Martinez inched the Cougars closer with a solo home run to lead off the bottom of the fourth against Rayner Oliveros, but the Bees plated Chris McConnell in the fifth for a 6-1 score. Shields gave up the six runs in five innings, allowed seven hits, walked one and struck out two.

Brad Davis and Steve Sharpe each tossed two perfect relief innings to keep the Cougars in the game, but the offense never mustered anything more off Oliveros and managed only two unearned runs the rest of the way for the 6-3 final. Shields (1-1) took the loss, Oliveros (1-0) got the win and Chris Hayes recorded his first save for the Bees.

The finale of the three-game series and the Cougars' seven-game homestand is Wednesday at 12 p.m. CDT. Vince Mazzaro (1-0, 3.60) is scheduled to face right-hander Matt Kniginyzky (1-0, 1.50). The Cougars then travel to Clinton on Thursday to start a three-game series.

Midwest League Stories from April 11, 2006

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• Snappers win a weird one over Wisconsin - Beloit Sky Carp
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• Devil Rays crush Wizards for the second straight night - Southwest Michigan Devil Rays
• Kernels Shut Out Chiefs 6-0 - Peoria Chiefs
• Dragons use good wood to down Lansing 2-1 - Dayton Dragons
• Whitecaps edge South Bend 4-3 - West Michigan Whitecaps
• Cougars, Shields struggle against Bees - Kane County Cougars
• SilverHawks Cruz to win - South Bend Silver Hawks
• LumberKings spoil Swing home opener - Quad Cities River Bandits
• Baisley, Cougars Break Out Offensively - Kane County Cougars
• Lugnuts win opener over Dragons - Lansing Lugnuts
• Coffman, LumberKings shut down Swing - Clinton LumberKings
• Bees drop series opener to Cougars - Burlington Bees
• Snappers lose series opener - Beloit Sky Carp
• Timber Rattlers stop Snappers - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
• Devil Rays strong start too much for Wizards - Southwest Michigan Devil Rays
• Lugnuts score early and often picking up 10-1 win - Dayton Dragons

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