Cougars Win, Now in 1st Place by 2 Games

Published on June 12, 2009 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Kane County Cougars News Release

APPLETON, Wisc. - Pedro Figueroa posted a third straight quality start Friday night, and three relievers combined to hold the lead as the Kane County Cougars edged the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, 2-1, in front of 3,602 at Time Warner Cable Field. The Cougars, thanks to their win and Cedar Rapids' loss at Quad Cities, now hold a full two-game lead for first place atop the Western Division with nine first-half games remaining.

Figueroa (6-2) has not allowed an earned run in his last two outings -- a 13-inning span -- and has induced seven double plays during that time. On Friday he scattered six hits, walked four and fanned four over six frames. The only run he gave up was an unearned tally in the bottom of the second.

The Cougars tied the game in the third on a bases-loaded fielder's choice by Jason Christian and took the lead in the fourth when Steve Kleen scored on a wild pitch. The Cougars stranded nine runners and never managed another run, but their early output turned out to be enough. Brett Hunter handled the seventh when Figueroa left, Justin Murray struck out two in a run-free eighth, and Mickey Storey notched his seventh save with a scoreless ninth. Cody Scarpetta (1-5) took the loss.

The two clubs conclude their four-game series Saturday night at 6:35 CDT. Kenny Smalley (6-1, 2.03) will pitch for the Cougars (37-24) against Trey Watten (2-6, 4.28) for the Timber Rattlers (29-32). Then the Cougars shift their eight-game road trip over to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Sunday to begin a key four-game series against the Kernels that could determine a first-half division champion.

Midwest League Stories from June 12, 2009

• Bandits Overcome Seven Errors and Three Deficits - Quad Cities River Bandits
• TinCaps Win Another Thriller - Fort Wayne TinCaps
• Cougars Win, Now in 1st Place by 2 Games - Kane County Cougars
• Bees Use Two Position Players as Pitchers in Loss - Burlington Bees
• Dragons Again Go to Extra Innings but Fall in Fort Wayne - Dayton Dragons
• Cougars Edge Rattlers - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
• Blevins Breezes Past Nuts - Great Lakes Loons
• A Pitcher's Best Friend - West Michigan Whitecaps
• Blevins, Loons Zip Past Lugnuts, 4-1 - Lansing Lugnuts
• Whitecaps Bounce Back with 3-1 Win - South Bend Silver Hawks
• Hart Ache - Kane County Cougars
• Perconte to DL, Bristow Activated for Friday Start - Peoria Chiefs
• Kernels fall to River Bandits, 3-2, in extra innings - Cedar Rapids Kernels
• Whitecaps Raising Awareness for Prostate Cancer - West Michigan Whitecaps

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