Smith Sharp as Cougars Blank Kernels

Published on August 7, 2012 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Kane County Cougars News Release

GENEVA, Ill.-Kyle Smith registered a career-high 12 strikeouts as the Kane County Cougars shutout the Cedar Rapids Kernels, 5-0, on Tuesday night at Fifth Third Bank Ballpark.

Smith (2-1) was electric through his seven scoreless innings as he limited the Kernels (45-69, 13-31) to only three hits. Smith had at least one strikeout in every inning with the exception of the sixth, and he had acquired 10 k's through the first five frames. Smith was given the advantage in the bottom of the fourth when Danny Mateo singled with one out and scored on a two-out, two-bagger off the bat of Michael Antonio.

Mateo helped the Cougars (57-57, 23-21) add to the lead in the bottom of the sixth inning when he lifted a sac fly to right-center, scoring Justin Trapp. Trapp reached with a bunt single to start the frame and took second on a throwing error by pitcher Ryan Crowley (1-3). Crowley also worked through seven innings while yielding just one earned run on five hits.

Kane County broke the game open in the bottom of the eighth. R.J. Alvarez walked Trapp and Jack Lopez to begin the inning. They both scored when Mateo lined a triple passed center fielder Andy Workman. Mateo ended up scoring on a sac fly from Antonio while Malcom Culver (S, 6) tossed the last two innings for the Cougars to preserve the lead and the shutout.

The Cougars are at Ashford University Field on Wednesday when they take on the Clinton LumberKings at 7:00 p.m. You can listen to the broadcast on www.kccougars.com, beginning with Cougars on Deck at 6:45 p.m. Right-hander Aaron Brooks (9-10) will start for the Cougars against fellow righty Seon-Gi Kim (2-3). The Cougars return to Fifth Third Bank Ballpark on Wednesday, August 15, when they host the Clinton LumberKings at 6:30 p.m. For tickets, please call (630) 232-8811 or visit www.kccougars.com.

6:45 PM (CT) Pre-Game Show, 7:00 First Pitch on WBIG 1280-AM & kccougars.com

Midwest League Stories from August 7, 2012

• Snappers Top Rattlers 10-4 - Beloit Sky Carp
• Snappers Rout Rattlers - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
• Whitecaps Rally Late For Extra-Inning Win - West Michigan Whitecaps
• Chiefs Win 5-3 Tuesday as Peralta Strikes out 14 - Peoria Chiefs
• Bees Drop Game Four to Bandits, 6-3 - Burlington Bees
• LumberKings Fall Short of Sweep in Peoria - Clinton LumberKings
• Whitecaps stun Meyer, Lugnuts in 10 innings - Lansing Lugnuts
• River Bandits Rally Late to Take Finale against Bees, 6-3 - Quad Cities River Bandits
• Fort Wayne Earns Split with 7-3 Win - Fort Wayne TinCaps
• Smith Sharp as Cougars Blank Kernels - Kane County Cougars
• Segovia Homers Again But Hot Rods Fall - Bowling Green Hot Rods
• Hawks Hampered by Errors in 7-5 Loss - South Bend Silver Hawks
• Castillo Crushes Game Winner - Lake County Captains
• Smith Back in the Mix - Kane County Cougars
• Dragons Gameday for August 7 - Dayton Dragons
• Hot Rods Homestand Notes for August 8-10 - Bowling Green Hot Rods
• Timber Rattlers Homestand Highlights August 8 Through August 13 - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
• Big inning lifts Kane County past Kernels, 5-4 - Cedar Rapids Kernels

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