MWL1 Kane County Cougars

Cougars Split with Chiefs in Comeback Win

June 11, 2014 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Kane County Cougars News Release


PEORIA, Ill. - After solid pitching held the Cougars to just two hits in the first game of a double-header, the First Half Western Division Champions scored four unanswered runs to split the twin bill from Peoria. The Cougars (44-22) begin their final road trip of the first half with a 2-1 loss and a 4-3 win over the Peoria Chiefs (34-31).

In game one, Peoria right-hander Alex Reyes had trouble in the first inning, but it did not foreshadow the rest of the ball game. The Cougars scored a run on Jordan Hankins' RBI double to plate Jake Hannemann, who reached on a walk, in the first inning. Reyes walked a total of two batters in the opening frame, but only allowed one base runner afterwards.

The Chiefs gave Reyes a lead in the fourth inning with just three batters coming up to the plate. Vaughn Bryan doubled off Tyler Skulina to begin the inning. Juan Herrera followed with a groundball to the left side of the infield which Carlos Penalver gloved but went to third base attempting to retire Bryan. Penalver's throw went wide and Bryan scored while Herrera moved to second. Carson Kelly came up next and singled home Herrera for a 2-1 Chiefs' advantage.

Reyes (4-5) worked the Cougars' offense with five perfect innings of the seven he tossed and seven strikeouts. It was his first complete game of the season. Skulina (4-3) suffered the loss despite giving up no earned runs through five innings and striking out three.

Game two set up similarly, but the Cougars slowly gained momentum towards the end of the contest.

After Herrera drove in three runs with an RBI groundout and two-run double through the first three innings, the Cougars finally found the scoreboard in the fourth frame.

Cael Brockmeyer's sacrifice fly to right field scored Hankins for a 3-1 Chiefs' lead. Facing a new pitcher in Jonny Polanco, the Cougars made noise in the sixth inning with a two-out RBI double from Tim Saunders. Antonio Valerio drew a walk to load the bases and force Polanco out of the game. Steven Sabatino came in relief and struck out Trey Martin to end the threat, holding a 3-2 Peoria lead.

Martin may have ended the top of the sixth inning, but how he ended the bottom of the sixth became more important. Torrez retired the first two Chiefs and was left with Kelly. The Chiefs' catcher lifted a ball deep to left field, but not deep enough. Martin jogged to the track and perfectly timed a leaping grab to snag a home run away from Kelly and preserve a one-run deficit for the Cougars. Martin's home run robbing catch looked identical to a play he made on Kelly the last time the Cougars were in Peoria on June 2.

The momentum began to swing the Cougars way when Hannemann singled up the middle. A bobble in center field by CJ McElroy Jr. gave Hannemann a chance to reach second base. With the tying run in scoring position, Penalver laid down a sacrifice bunt that Sabatino threw wide of first. Hannemann scored on the errant throw and Penalver moved to second base. Two batters later Hankins sacrificed Penalver home with a fly ball to left and the Cougars' first lead of the game 4-3.

Torrez (6-3) earned the win as Sabatino (4-1) suffered the loss and the blown save. Tyler Bremer struck out the side in the bottom of the seventh for his eighth save.

The series wraps up Thursday with a 7:00 p.m. first pitch from Dozer Park. Juan Paniagua (2-3, 3.65) will throw for the Cougars against the Chiefs' left-hander Jimmy Reed (3-1, 3.84). The game can be heard on AM 1280 WBIG and kccougars.com.

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Midwest League Stories from June 11, 2014


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