Kane County Cougars Homestand Preview: August 21-23
Published on August 19, 2015 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Kane County Cougars News Release
GENEVA, Ill. - The Kane County Cougars, Class-A Minor League affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks, open a three-game homestand Friday evening and will welcome the Quad Cities River Bandits (Houston Astros affiliate). Homestand highlights include Peanut Free Night on Friday, Minions Night on Saturday along with a pre-game concert by Hi Infidelity, and a Kids Eat Free Day on Sunday. Tickets are available for the upcoming homestand by calling (630) 232-8811 or ordering online at kccougars.com.
Friday 8/21 Quad Cities River Bandits (Houston Astros farm team) 6:30 p.m. (gates open at 5:30 p.m.) WBIG 1280 AM (6:15 p.m.)
- Stand Up to Cancer Night, presented by Fifth Third Bank
- Peanut-Free Night, presented by Fifth Third Bank
- National Anthem - Sophia Stasch
- Thirsty Friday with $1 select beers and sodas
- Take Me Out to the Ballgame - led by Foundation Wealth Strategies
- Post-game fireworks show
- Fans can run the bases after the game
Saturday 8/22 Quad Cities River Bandits 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 PM inside Cougars music garden area
- Minions Twinkies and activity page for the first 1,500 children ages 14 and under
- Appearances by Minions characters
- National Anthem - Naperville Men's Glee Club
- Post-game Minions themed fireworks show
- Post-game performance by the Jesse White Tumblers
- Fans can run the bases after the game
Sunday 8/23 Quad Cities River Bandits 1 p.m. (gates open at 12 p.m.) WBIG 1280 AM (12:45 p.m.)
- Sunday Funday presented by Dave and Buster's
- Spirit and Cheer Day
- Kids Eat Free Day - free hot dog and soda voucher for all children age 3-10
- Free family-friendly entertainment inside the ballpark
- Live organ music by Nancy Faust
- National Anthem - Jake Rugebregt
- Pre-game autograph session with Cougars players
- Fans can run the bases after the game
Homestand Notes
Minions Night: In one of the most anticipated theme nights of the season, the Cougars will host Minions Night on Saturday, August 22. The first 1,500 fans ages 14 and under will receive Minions Twinkies and an activity card. Minions characters will be at Fifth Third Bank Ballpark that evening and throughout the game, various in-game videos and promotions will celebrate Minions. The evening concludes with a Minions-themed fireworks show.
Peanut Free Night: The Cougars have designated Friday, August 21 as Peanut-Free Night, presented by Fifth Third Bank. The annual event and game held at Fifth Third Bank Ballpark will not include the sales of peanuts or peanut-related products to give fans with peanut allergies an opportunity to safely attend a Cougars game. Tickets for that evening's game against Quad Cities are on sale now by calling (630) 232-8811 or ordering online at kccougars.com. All fans will enjoy a post-game fireworks show and can run the bases following the game. That evening is also Stand Up to Cancer Night, presented by Fifth Third Bank. Fans will have the opportunity to view Fifth Third Bank's display inside the ballpark while helping recognize family members and friends who have been affected by cancer. That evening is also a Thirsty Friday with $1 select beers and sodas.
Live Music on Saturday: Before the Saturday, August 22 game, the Cougars will welcome 80's cover band Hi Infidelity for a 90-minute concert from 4-5:30 PM. Gates open at 3:30 PM that afternoon as the band will perform in the Music Garden area of the ballpark. Game time is 6:30 PM and the evening includes a post-game performance by the Jesse White Tumblers along with a fireworks show.
A day for the entire family: Sunday's 1 PM game is a Sunday Funday presented by Dave and Buster's. All kids ages 3-10 will receive a free hot dog and soda voucher. Fans can participate in a pre-game autograph session with the team at 12:30 PM and unlimited use wristbands for the Cougars' KidZone attractions are just $5. Fans will also be treated to live music by ballpark organist Nancy Faust.
Team/Alumni Notes
Kane County continues to maintain its first place position in the Midwest League's Western Division with a second half record of 37-13. Entering play this evening, the Cougars must win 11 of their 20 remaining games to break the franchise record for most wins in one half of a season, set by the 2001 Cougars which went 47-21 in the first half on their way towards winning the MWL championship. The Cougars are now 73-45 and trail Quad Cities by 2.5 games for the best overall record in the league. The Cougars have a magic number of six in order to clinch a postseason spot. The team leads Peoria by five games for the Western Division second half championship. This marks the first time since 2009-10 that the Cougars have won 70 or more games in consecutive seasons. Not since 2003-04 have the Cougars won 80 or more games in consecutive seasons. The Cougars lead the league with a .275 team batting average and is second with a 2.95 team ERA. A trio of Cougars are among the top 10 league hitters in batting average: Victor Reyes (.308, T-4th), Marty Herum (.308, T-4th) and Colin Bray (.299, T-9th). The Cougars also boast three pitchers in the league's top 10 in ERA: Brad Keller (2.47, 2nd), Ethan Elias (2.87, 9th) and Markus Solbach (2.88, 10th), who was recently promoted to Class-A Advanced Visalia. Herum is second in the league with 135 hits and nine hits away from entering the franchise's single-season top 10 list. Elias became the 29th pitcher in franchise history to reach the 10-win mark after winning on August 13, with Nick Baker becoming the 30th pitcher to record 10 wins the following evening. This is the first time since 2007 that two Cougars pitchers have each won 10 or more games in a single season (Trevor Cahill and James Heuser). Zac Curtis' save on August 16 was his 28th of the season, breaking the franchise record that was previously held by Bryan Moore ('00 Cougar). Curtis is tied with Reading pitcher Stephen Shackleford for the overall Minor League Baseball lead.
Seattle outfielder Nelson Cruz ('03) is first in the major leagues with 36 home runs and eighth with a .319 batting average. San Francisco pitcher Santiago Casilla ('03-'04) and Los Angeles Angels pitcher Huston Street ('04) have 29 saves. Detroit infielder Miguel Cabrera ('01) returned from the disabled list on August 14 after missing more than a month of the season with a calf injury. Toronto infielder Cliff Pennington ('05) was recently traded from Arizona in exchange for current Cougars infielder Dawel Lugo. Cubs catcher Kyle Schwarber ('14) is batting .310 with 9 home runs and 30 RBI. Pittsburgh pitcher Joe Blanton ('03) is 3-0 with a 0.68 ERA since being traded from Kansas City. Toronto pitcher Bo Schultz ('10) has a 2.18 ERA in 22 relief appearances while Cleveland pitcher Ryan Webb ('05) has a 2.45 ERA in 30 relief appearances.
Outfielder Jeremy Barfield ('09) is batting .329 in 24 games at Triple-A Albuquerque (Colorado). Outfielder Brett Eibner ('11) is batting .304 with 18 home runs and 69 RBI at Triple-A Omaha (Kansas City) and teammate Scott Alexander (12) has a 2.56 ERA in 37 relief appearances. Pitcher Andrew Bailey ('07) has made five relief appearances in a rehab stint for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (New York Yankees). Pitcher Pierce Johnson ('13-'14) is 6-1 with a 1.70 ERA in 12 starts at Double-A Tennessee (Cubs) while teammate Starling Peralta ('13) has a 2.23 ERA in 33 relief appearances. Pitcher Andrew Triggs ('12) has a 1.03 ERA in 35 outings with Double-A Bowie (Baltimore). Infielder Chesny Young ('14) is batting .335 in 83 games at Class-A Advanced Myrtle Beach (Cubs). Teammate Paul Blackburn ('14) has a 2.99 ERA in 16 starts and fellow starter Jonathan Martinez ('14) has a 2.83 ERA in 19 starts. Teammate Michael Heesch ('13-'14) has a 2.09 ERA in 28 appearances. (Statistics through 8/18)
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