Cougars Slug Past Prior, Chiefs

May 29, 2006 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Kane County Cougars News Release

Peoria, IL - After scoring 19 runs on 20 hits Sunday night at home against Wisconsin, the Kane County Cougars continued their sizzling offense on the road, beating Chicago Cubs right-hander Mark Prior and the Peoria Chiefs 8-2 Monday night in the opener of a four-game series in front of 5,865 fans at O'Brien Field. Jose Pineda cracked a solo home run off Prior, Justin Sellers delivered four hits and a solo shot later in the game and starter Trey Shields lasted seven innings for the win. The Cougars extended their lead atop the Western Division to 2 1/2 games.

Pineda's towering round-tripper came with one out in the second inning off Prior and gave the Cougars a 1-0 lead. Later in the frame Mike Massaro poked a run-scoring single, and a throwing error on the same play scored Sellers to make it 3-0. Prior (0-1), in a rehab start in the minors, left after two innings and threw a total of 44 pitches in the loss.

Nick Blasi smacked a double in the fourth for another run, and Jeff Baisley extended his hitting streak to nine games and drove in his league-leading 42nd run with a single for a 5-0 score.

Shields (4-5) gave up his first run in the fifth and second in the seventh but overall pitched very well, scattering eight hits, walking one and fanning one to the post the win. Massaro nailed a two-run single in the seventh, and Sellers' final hit was a home run in the ninth to put the icing on the cake for an 8-2 victory.

The Cougars (31-19) and Peoria (28-21) play again Tuesday night at 6:30 CDT. Jared Lansford (4-1, 0.90) and Mitch Atkins (3-0, 2.01) will face off.

Midwest League Stories from May 29, 2006

• Bees Win in 10th Inning - Burlington Bees
• Rattlers throw one away - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
• Cougars Slug Past Prior, Chiefs - Kane County Cougars
• Prior Pitches Two Innings, Takes Loss as Chiefs Fall 8-2 - Peoria Chiefs
• Snappers steal Memorial Day matinee - Quad Cities River Bandits
• Snappers Come From Behind For Third Straight Win - Beloit Sky Carp
• Lugnuts Toss Second Straight Shutout - Lansing Lugnuts
• Devil Rays get shut out - Southwest Michigan Devil Rays
• Infante powers sluggish offense past LumberKings - Cedar Rapids Kernels
• Late Rally Not Enough for LumberKings - Clinton LumberKings
• Whitecaps beat Dayton, 6-5; Roberson placed on DL - West Michigan Whitecaps
• Whitecaps Bullpen Cools Off Dragons - Dayton Dragons
• Win a car when the Kernels return home on June 2nd - Cedar Rapids Kernels
• It's not too late to'Learn the game from the Pros' - Cedar Rapids Kernels
• Kernels tally early, hold on for 4-3 win - Cedar Rapids Kernels
• Big Buddy Gets Big Boost; Holy Spirit Parish Donates $5,000 to Local Youth - West Michigan Whitecaps
• Hundley placed on DL, Steiner retires - Fort Wayne TinCaps

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