Yankees battle back to beat the Cougars, 5-3
Published on May 18, 2003 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Kane County Cougars News Release
Battle Creek, MI - The Battle Creek Yankees (21-22) evened the four-game series with the Kane County Cougars (28-16), winning 5-3 on Sunday afternoon at C.O. Brown Stadium. Jose Valdez (4-2) beat the Cougars for the second time this season, allowing just two runs (one earned) on four hits in seven innings of work. Joe Blanton (2-6) suffered his team leading sixth loss of the year. He was touched for six hits, five runs (four earned), and allowed two home runs. Blanton entered the game surrendering just one home run in 47 innings pitched.
In the ninth inning, the Cougars had runners at first and second with one out, but Matt Brumit managed the save by fanning Marcus McBeth and Kirk Nordess to close out the game.
The afternoon started with an eventful first inning, the Cougars picked up a single run in their first at-bat, and the Yankees came storming back to plate three runs during their first turn. John Baker, who drove in all three runs picked up his first RBI on a ground out to first base, putting the Cougars in the lead, 1-0. Jayson Drobiak's RBI double tied the game at one, and Eric Verbryke blasted a two-run home run with two outs off Blanton.
Drobiak nailed his second double of the game in the third inning, putting Battle Creek in front 4-1. The double for Drobiak was his league leading 17th, his 5th against Kane County, and the RBI that proved to be the game-winning hit.
The Cougars had a chance to tie the game in the sixth inning. Kirk Nordess began a one-out rally with a single, advanced to second on a walk, and scored on Baker's RBI double, cutting the deficit to two. Matt Carson grabbed that run back for the Yankees, by blasting a sixth inning lead off home run. Kane County's final run was off Charlie Isaacson in the eighth on Baker's RBI single scoring Francis Gomez.
The Cougars and the Yankees battle in game three of their series tomorrow night from C.O. Brown Stadium - game time is 5:00 PM (CST). Jared Burton RHP (2-0, 1.66) will make his first start of the season for the Cougars; Ray Clark RHP (0-1, 3.32) will take the mound for the fourth time this season for the Battle Creek.
4:45 PM Cougars On-Deck Show, 5:00 PM First Pitch on AM-1280 WBIG.
Midwest League Stories from May 18, 2003
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- Seventh Heaven Again for Streaking 'Caps - West Michigan Whitecaps
- Dragons Comeback Falls Short, Wizards Win 3-2 - Dayton Dragons
- Yankees Bounce Back - Southwest Michigan Devil Rays
- Yankees battle back to beat the Cougars, 5-3 - Kane County Cougars
- Dog Day afternoon - Cedar Rapids Kernels
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