Mazzaro, homers power Cougars

August 6, 2006 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Kane County Cougars News Release

Geneva, IL - Vince Mazzaro pitched a professional career-high eight innings, and Anthony Recker and Jeff Baisley each blasted a solo home run Sunday afternoon to lead the Kane County Cougars to a 7-4 win over the Peoria Chiefs in front of 10,082 fans at Elfstrom Stadium. Brad Kilby notched his sixth save as the Cougars have claimed the first two games of the four-game set against their intra-state rival and possible future playoff opponent.

Recker smoked a first-inning double off Mitch Atkins to score Chad Boyd for a 1-0 game before the Chiefs got their only two runs against Mazzaro in the third, making it 2-1. Mazzaro then settled down to last eight frames and retired the final 18 batters he faced. He allowed four hits, walked just one and struck out a career-best nine hitters.

Mazzaro (9-8) fell off the hook for a loss when Recker connected for a round-tripper in the third, and the right-hander went in line for a win when Isaac Omura's bouncer in the fourth against Roger Evenson plated Wes Long for a 3-2 game. The Cougars added a run in the fifth and two in the sixth for a comfortable 6-2 affair. Then Baisley led off the eighth and went deep off Jon Mueller, belting his 21st home run and delivering his 94th RBI. He's now tied for third all-time on the Cougars' single-season home run list and fourth in RBIs.

Peoria roared back in the ninth with two runs against John Herrera before Kilby struck out three consecutive hitters to end a bases-loaded jam and close out the game. Atkins (10-4) suffered the loss. The Cougars (26-18) send T.J. Franco (2-1, 4.70) to the mound on Monday night at 7 CT in the third game of the series. Peoria (22-22) is scheduled to counter with Scott Taylor (7-6, 3.31).

Midwest League Stories from August 6, 2006

• Sell-out crowd sees Mulder, Swing win again - Quad Cities River Bandits
• Lugnuts power way to win - Lansing Lugnuts
• Devil Rays explode for 13 runs in win - Southwest Michigan Devil Rays
• Renz's two home runs not enough as Kernels fall, 7-5 - Cedar Rapids Kernels
• Mazzaro, homers power Cougars - Kane County Cougars
• Limonta longball beats Beloit - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
• Hernandez drives in winning run for the Whitecaps - West Michigan Whitecaps
• Dragons keep rolling at Fifth Third Field with 5-2 win - Dayton Dragons
• Bees still can't slay Dragons - Burlington Bees
• Martinez heads to DL with bone bruise in foot - Quad Cities River Bandits
• Kernels Rally For Walk-Off Win Over Lugnuts - Lansing Lugnuts

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