Cougars Split With Whitecaps After Late Surge

June 3, 2005 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Kane County Cougars News Release

Grand Rapids, MI – The Kane County Cougars' offense provided eight runs in the final two innings Friday night in West Michigan, erasing a 2-1 deficit and turning it into a 9-3 victory at Fifth Third Ballpark. Raul Padron, Myron Leslie, Jose Pineda and Nick Blasi each had three hits to lead the attack.

West Michigan scored first in the first against Cougars starter Jared Trout, but Kane County answered off Whitecaps starter Andrew Kown in the fourth on Eddie Kim's RBI groundout with the bases loaded for a 1-1 game. The 'Caps took the lead on a sixth-inning sacrifice fly. Both Trout and Kown left after seven innings of work.

The Cougars got three in the eighth against reliever Tony Peralta. Javier Herrera singled, stole second base, went to third on a grounder and scored on Pineda's RBI single to tie it 2-2. Kim followed with a hit and a wild pitch put men at second and third. Tommy Everidge walked to load the bases and Blasi's single gave the Cougars a 3-2 lead. Kim came home on a wild pitch for a 4-2 game. West Michigan got a run in the bottom half against Keith Perez, who was later replaced by J.R. Pickens.

Kane County erupted with a five-run ninth. Herrera reached on an error, stole second, and raced home on a single by Padron for a 5-3 game. After back-to-back walks to Leslie and Pineda and a strike out, Everidge cracked a two-run double and Blasi added a two-run single for the 9-3 score that became the final.

Trout (2-1) got the win after seven innings of two-run, six-hit ball. Peralta (1-2) took the loss and Pickens got his first save. The Cougars (24-30) now head back to Elfstrom Stadium to begin a four-game series Saturday night at 6 CDT with the Fort Wayne Wizards. Ryan Webb (3-4, 3.35) takes the mound for Kane County against right-hander Luke Steidlmayer (5-2, 2.01) for the Wizards.

Midwest League Stories from June 3, 2005

• Bees Get "Burn"t Against Beloit - Burlington Bees
• Bullpen collapse leads to series split - West Michigan Whitecaps
• Armstrong carries offense as Lugnuts hang on to capture series - Lansing Lugnuts
• Swing drop heartbreaker - Quad Cities River Bandits
• Wisconsin ends trip with a shutout loss - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
• Five Run Fifth Propels Dayton to 8-4 Win - Dayton Dragons
• Cougars Split With Whitecaps After Late Surge - Kane County Cougars
• Dragons and Devil Rays to Play DH - Dayton Dragons
• Sonnanstine Shuts Down Chiefs 3-0 - Peoria Chiefs
• Sonnanstine masterful in 3-0 win over Peoria - Southwest Michigan Devil Rays
• Snappers June Events Update - Beloit Sky Carp
• Snappers Upcoming Home Stand - Beloit Sky Carp
• Meet the Team, Check Out the Homes - Dayton Dragons
• Disciples Peak to play post-game concert at C.O. Brown on June 12 - Southwest Michigan Devil Rays
• Buckner, Moye promoted to High Desert - Burlington Bees
• Lumberkings lose in 13 innings - Clinton LumberKings
• Lugnuts roster shaken up, Cannon promoted - Lansing Lugnuts

The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Other Recent Kane County Cougars Stories

• Cougars Combine for No-Hitter and Take Series against Saltdogs
• Cougars Drop Heartbreaker in the 11th Inning
• Cougars Take Series Opener Against Saltdogs 3-1
• Cougars Steal Series in Extras against Goldeyes
• Cougars and Goldeyes Split Doubleheader to Start Series