Donatella Directs Cougars to First Victory of Second Half
Published on June 27, 2016 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Kane County Cougars News Release
Geneva, Ill. - Behind a career night from Justin Donatella (6-4), the Kane County Cougars (1-4) collected their first victory of the second half against the visiting Burlington Bees (2-3) by a 3-2 final.
Springing out to a 3-0 lead after six innings, the Cougars fended off a late two-run surge from a persistent Bees club. Cougar lefty reliever,Yuhei Nakaushiro (0-0), stranded the bases loaded in the eighth frame as Drew Muren shut the door for the final three outs to clinch an important win.
Facing Burlington's southpaw Ronnie Glenn (1-6) for the third time this season, the Cougars familiarity aided their offensive strategy. In the second frame, Austin Byler led off with a single and came around to score on a Fernery Ozuna double. The next inning, the Cougars culminated some two out magic. Grant Heyman bashed his second triple of the campaign to deep right center and scored on an RBI base hit for Trevor Mitsui.
For the duration of his start, Donatella was masterful. The Southern California native faced the minimum through six innings and did not allow a base hit until two outs in the fourth inning. The base hit was a soft single from Jared Foster who was caught stealing.
Donatella matched a season high for a Cougars starter with seven and one-third innings pitched. He totaled four strikeouts and walked just one hitter with just three hits surrendered.
In the sixth inning, the Cougars injected another single tally to their line score. At the helm of the damage, Byler creamed a double to the wall in right field scoring Heyman.
With Donatella still on the mound in the seventh, the Bees plated two runs to cut the deficit to one. Jettisoning quick offense, Angelo Amendolare and Jared Walsh swatted back-to-back doubles followed by an RBI groundout for Alex Rivera. Gaining momentum, the Bees loaded the bases in the eighth, but Nakaushiro forced a foul pop out to end the threat and maintain the Cougars slim lead. Drew Muren touched 98 miles per hour consistently in the ninth as the Cougars slammed the door on a victory.
Donatella picked up his first win of June, Glenn took the loss in his first decision against the Cougars, and Muren logged the save. Tuesday, the Cougars have a Noon first pitch against the Bees. The Cougars' Alex Young (2-1, 2.51 ERA) toes the rubber against Burlington's Jared Ruxer (3-1, 1.03 ERA). For tickets call 630-232-8811 or visit kccougars.com.
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