Kane County Cougars Homestand Preview: August 18-23
Published on August 14, 2014 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Kane County Cougars News Release
GENEVA, Ill. - The Kane County Cougars, Class-A farm team of the Chicago Cubs, open a homestand on Monday and will welcome the Burlington Bees (Los Angeles Angels affiliate) and Clinton LumberKings (Seattle Mariners affiliate). Homestand highlights include two straight evenings with fireworks shows, a pre-game concert by Hi Infidelity on Saturday August 23 and a Thirsty Thursday on August 21. Tickets are available for each game on the upcoming homestand by calling (630) 232-8811 or visiting kccougars.com.
Monday 8/18 Burlington Bees (Los Angeles Angels farm team) 6:30 p.m. (gates open at 5:30 p.m.) WBIG 1280 AM (6:15 p.m.)
- $5 Monday presented by Meijer ($5 reserved seats when purchased in advance)
- Ozzie removable sticker tattoos for the first 1,500 children
- Youth Baseball/Softball Parade
- Fans can run the bases after the game
Tuesday 8/19 Burlington Bees 6:30 p.m. (gates open at 5:30 p.m.) WBIG 1280 AM (6:15 p.m.)
- Pre-game performance by Elite Martial Arts
- Fans can run the bases after the game
Wednesday 8/20 Burlington Bees 1 p.m. (gates open at 12 p.m.) WBIG 1280 AM (12:45 p.m.)
- Fans can run the bases after the game
Thursday 8/21 Clinton LumberKings (Seattle Mariners farm team) 6:30 p.m. (gates open at 5:30 p.m.) WBIG 1280 AM (6:15 p.m.)
- Thirsty Thursday presented by Miller Lite ($1 select beers, sodas and hot dogs)
- National Anthem - Spring Valley Chorus
- Custom koozies for the first 1,500 fans age 21 and older, courtesy of Miller Lite
- Fans can run the bases after the game
Friday 8/22 Clinton LumberKings 6:30 p.m. (gates open at 5:30 p.m.) WBIG 1280 AM (6:15 p.m.)
- Back to School Night
- Cougars baseball caps for the first 1,500 fans, courtesy of Stanley Black & Decker
- Pre-game check presentation with the Dempster Family Foundation
- Take Me Out to the Ballgame - led by Foundation Wealth Strategies
- Post-game fireworks show (College fight songs theme)
- Fans can run the bases after the game
Saturday 8/23 Clinton LumberKings 6:30 p.m. (gates open at 3:30 p.m.) WBIG 1280 AM (6:15 p.m.)
- Pre-game concert by Hi Infidelity from 4-5:30 p.m.
- Thunder Styxx giveaway for the first 1,500 children age 14 and under, courtesy of Snickers
- Pre-game performance by Oswego East High School Marching Band
- National Anthem - Naperville Men's Glee Club
- Color Guard - St. Charles AMVETS 503
- Take Me Out to the Ballgame - led by Q Center
- Post-game fireworks show (Classic Rock theme)
- Post-game performance by the Jesse White Tumblers
- Fans can run the bases after the game
Homestand Notes The upcoming six-game homestand will welcome a pair of Western Division foes in Burlington and Clinton. Burlington's last trip to Fifth Third Bank Ballpark was a three-game series on May 2-4. Thursday's 6:30 p.m. game (August 21) is a Thirsty Thursday with $1 select beers, sodas and hot dogs. Friday's 6:30 p.m. game (August 22) is Back to School Night. The first 1,500 fans will receive a Cougars baseball cap courtesy of Stanley Black & Decker. As title sponsor for that evening's game, Stanley's "Build Your America" Night will feature Stanley employees holding a large American flag during the National Anthem. During each inning, the Cougars will give away a Stanley Heritage prize package. Also that evening, the Cougars will welcome the Dempster Family Foundation to Fifth Third Bank Ballpark for a pre-game check presentation. The Dempster Family Foundation, which was the Cougars' charity partner for the month of July, is dedicated to improving the quality of life for the growing community of those affected by 22q11.2 deletion syndrome. The disorder is caused by a small missing piece of the 22nd chromosome, which can affect every system in the human body and cause over 180 health and developmental issues. The foundation took its cause after Ryan Dempster's daughter Riley was diagnosed just two days after her birth. Dempster is a 16-year Major League veteran who pitched for the Cougars in 1996, and most recently won a World Series with Boston last fall. Saturday's 6:30 p.m. game (August 23) includes a 90-minute concert before the game by Hi Infidelity, a Chicago area cover band playing music of all types, mainly from the "Ë80's rock period. Gates open early at 3:30 p.m. that day. That evening's post-game entertainment features the Jesse White Tumblers and a fireworks show set to classic rock music.
Team Notes The Cougars (31-20) hold a one-game lead over Cedar Rapids for the best 2nd half record in the Midwest League's Western Division. Overall, the Cougars are a league-best 76-45. At Fifth Third Bank Ballpark this season, the team is 46-15. The franchise record for most home wins in a season is 50, set by the 2001 squad. The Cougars have 10 home games remaining. With 19 games remaining, the Cougars are 12 wins away from tying the 2001 club for the most wins in franchise history. That year's team went 88-50 while winning the Midwest League championship. The Cougars have recorded 80 or more wins three times in franchise history: '01 (88 wins), '03 (80 wins) and '04 (83 wins). The Cougars have already clinched the first half Western Division championship and open a best-of-three opening round series against the Western Division 2nd half wild card winner on September 3. The Cougars hold a 10.5-game lead over Wisconsin for the best overall record in the Western Division. If the Cougars were to advance to the playoff's second round, overall record would dictate home field advantage in the best-of-three series. Pitcher Daury Torrez is 7th in the league with a 2.94 ERA. Jacob Rogers leads the team with 14 home runs and 56 RBI. Pitcher Jen-Ho Tseng has allowed just 15 walks in 93 innings. The Cougars' team ERA of 3.01 is 1st in the Midwest League and on pace to set a franchise record, currently held by the '03 team (3.22 ERA).
At Triple-A Iowa, pitcher Armando Rivero ('13) is 3-0 with a 1.61 ERA in 16 appearances. Pitcher Dan Straily ('10) is 3-3 with a 3.00 ERA. At Double-A Tennessee, pitcher Pierce Johnson ('13-'14) is 5-4 with a 2.49 ERA. Pitcher Lendy Castillo ('13) is 1-1 with a 3.18 ERA in 34 relief appearances while Andrew McKirahan ('13) has a 2.95 ERA in 15 relief appearances. At Class-A Advanced Daytona, catcher/outfielder Kyle Schwarber ('14) is batting .250 in 26 games. Infielder Dan Vogelbach ('13) leads the team with 13 home runs and 65 RBI. Pitcher Tyler Skulina ('13-'14) has a 5.40 ERA in 2 starts since being promoted from Kane County and another recently promoted Cougar, pitcher Gerardo Concepcion ('14), hasn't allowed an earned run in 3 relief appearances.
Miguel Cabrera ('01) is batting .307 with 17 home runs and 86 RBI with Detroit. Nelson Cruz ('03) is batting .263 with 31 home runs and 83 RBI with Baltimore. Adrian Gonzalez ('01) is batting .269 with 17 home runs and 80 RBI with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Josh Beckett ('00) is 6-6 with a 2.88 ERA in 20 starts. Pitcher Santiago Casilla ('03-'04) has a 1.48 ERA in 39 relief appearances for San Francisco. Oakland pitcher Sean Doolittle ('07) has a 2.44 ERA in 50 appearances. San Diego pitcher Tyson Ross ('08) recently picked up his 11th win of the season and has a 2.63 ERA in 25 starts. Los Angeles Angels pitcher Huston Street ('04) has made 10 scoreless relief appearances since being traded by San Diego. Pitcher Yordano Ventura ('11) is 9-8 with a 3.45 ERA in 23 games (22 starts) with Kansas City. Infielder Anthony Aliotti ('10) is batting .277 in 56 games with Triple-A Sacramento (Oakland) while pitcher Paul Smyth ('09) is 5-2 with a 2.60 ERA in 40 games at Sacramento. Infielder Cheslor Cuthbert ('11) was recently promoted to Triple-A Omaha (Kansas City). He's batting .345 through 7 games. (Statistics through 8/13)
Midwest League Stories from August 14, 2014
- Big First Inning Saves Loons from Sweep - Bowling Green Hot Rods
- Beloit Can't Avoid Sweep, Falls to Cedar Rapids 10-3 - Beloit Sky Carp
- Rattlers get shut out by Clinton - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
- Martin Homers Cougars to Sweep of Bandits - Quad Cities River Bandits
- TinCaps Go Cold on Cool August Night - Fort Wayne TinCaps
- Pitchers' Duel Turns Ugly In 10-2 Loss - West Michigan Whitecaps
- Allen dominates TinCaps for first Lugnuts win - Lansing Lugnuts
- Loons Rout Hot Rods Before Largest Crowd of Season - Great Lakes Loons
- Martin's Homer Completes Sweep - Kane County Cougars
- Chiefs Lose 4-2 Thursday - Peoria Chiefs
- Dragons Fall to Lake County 4-3 on Thursday - Dayton Dragons
- Hendrix Homers and Captains Win 4-3 - Lake County Captains
- TinCaps Game Notes -- August 14, 2014 at Lansing (Game 121/139) - Fort Wayne TinCaps
- River Bandits Homestand Highlights August 15-17 - Quad Cities River Bandits
- Cougars Receive Cubs 3rd Round Pick - Kane County Cougars
- Kernels Homestand Preview: August 15-20 - Cedar Rapids Kernels
- Kane County Cougars Homestand Preview: August 18-23 - Kane County Cougars
- Memorial Children's Hospital and South Bend Silver Hawks Partner for Home Run for Life - South Bend Silver Hawks
- Bandits Fall Silent to End Loss to Cougars - Quad Cities River Bandits
- LumberKings Fall to Timber Rattlers, 6-2 - Clinton LumberKings
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