Battle Creek Yankees at Kane County Cougars
Sunday, April 20th, 2003
Phillip B. Elfstrom Stadium, Geneva, Illinios
The Cougars showed what they were made of today as they came back from four runs down in the eighth to win by a couple of runs. The Yanks have hammered the starting pitching in the first two games of the series scoring 13 runs off of the Cougars starting pitchers.
A key two three run homer put the Cougars into the lead in the eighth. The big hit was the pitch hit double down the line in left to score one run and only put the Cougars down by one run. That hit knocked out the Yanks pitcher who hadnt giving up but one hit in the previous two innings off work in the game. That hit opened up the flood gates for the big three run blast by John Baker.
The offense as a whole was good, as they put up 13 hits and nine runs. J.P.Schmidt had two hits and one run batted in. John Baker had three hits, including the homer, plus a double. Kirk Nordness had three hits. He scored twice. Francis Gomez had one hit but it was a big two run triple in the sixth.
Drew Dickinson did not look sharp for the first time this year. He went into the sixth though which should help the bullpen. Drew gave up six hits and six runs. Five of those runs were earned. Dickinson also walked two and struck out four. He started out well, retiring the first six men he faced. Then and error lead to a run in the third. In the fourth and fifth though he rebounded and retired six in a row, before ultimatley running out of luck in the sixth and having to leave the game.
The Cougars though did score first, they scored in the first inning with two outs. Brant Colamarino singled to right. John Baker then singled to right. Nelson Cruz walked to load the bases with the two outs. Brian Stavisky then walked to bring home Colamarino. Jason Basil then grounded back to the mound to end the inning.
Kirk Nordness singled to center to lead off the second inning. Francis Gomez struck out. J.P. Schmidt singled to left to get Basil to third. John McCurdy then hit a sacrifice fly to right to score Nordness to put the Cougars up by two.
Manny Acosta started for the Yankees, and went five innings. He was effective in his outing. Acosta gave up six hits but ony two runs. His main problem was that he walked three but, yes only one of those three would end up scoring. The problem is one of those walks directly scored a run in the first. In the fourth inning the Cougars would strand a runner on third with nobody out. Then in the fifth they would strand one on third with one out. Acosta wiggled out of trouble.
The Yankees put up a run in the third to cut the lead in half. Omir Santos would lead off by reaching on an error by the shortstop John McCurdy. Matt Carson then flied out to right. Willie Vasquez singled to right to get Santos to third. Gabe Lopez then singled to left to score Santos, Vasquez would only get to second. Joaquin Arias then nubbed one down the third base line. The third baseman Jason Basil then made a smart play and let the ball roll down the line all the way to the bag. He grabed the ball and just as Vasquez was coming into third base to get the out. The inning would be over on a strikeout of Jason Drobiak.
The Cougars started to strand runners in the middle innings. In the fourth, Jason Basil doubled to center. Kirk Nordness then struck out. Frnacis Gomez grounded out to third, on the play Basil went to third with two outs. Schmidt then lined out to left to end the inning. In the fifth in a similar situation for the Cougars. McCurdy struck out to start the inning. Colamarino walked. Baker lined one down the first base line. The ball was called fair but some people said it was foul. Especially Yankees manager Mitch Seone who would argue and get tossed from the game. That would put runners on second and third with one out. Cruz lined to short for the second out. Stavisky then grounded to first to end the threat.
In the sixth inning which would be the big inning for the Yankees they would put up five runs. Gabe Lopez walked to lead things off. Joaquin Arias would reach on a fielder's choice. Lopez would be out at second. Drobiak then doubled to center. Juan Camacho popped one over first baseman Colamarino's head into right field for a single. On the play both Arias and Drobiak would score. Rudy Guillen would reach on a fielder's choice that would lead to Camacho being out at second. Tommy Rojas walked to put runners on first and second with two outs. Omir Santos singled to left to score Guillen.Matt Carson singled to center to score Rojas. Vasquez then singled to left to score Santos. After that the Cougars would take Dickinson out and replace him with Jared Burton. Vasquez would then try to steal off of Burton and was picked off by Burton who threw to second for the third out of the inning.
The good thing is that after the Cougars just gave up five runs they didnt hang their head. No that's not their style, they went out in the bottom of the inning and put up a three spot on the board. Coming into the sixth inning the Yanks brought in a new pitcher, Anderson Garcia replaced Manny Acosta. Basil lead off with a walk. Nordness then welcomed Garcia to the game with a liner off of his leg that found it's way into right field. Francis Gomez tripled to center to score both Basil and Nordness. Schmidt singled to right to score Gomez. Battle Creek then brought in another new pitcher, Josh Nietz came in. For some strange reason the Cougars lost their patience when he came in. On Nietz first pitch McCurdy would ground one to short, and the Yanks would turn a double play. On the very next pitch Colamarino popped one up to center to end the inning.
Jason Drobiak then hit a two out homer to center in the seventh to put one more up for Battle Creek. On the play the ball hit something near the bleachers and bounced back onto the field. It was originally ruled a ground rule double but after the Yanks hitting coach Ty Hawkins came out to argue and the umps got together they ruled it a homer. The Cougars radio announcer Mike A. asked the two ushers in the gazebo out in center who listen to the game out there if it was a homer and they ruled it was. That decison by the umps would bring out Cougars manager Webster Garrison to ask what happend to the first call. To my surprise he didnt get thrown out for the third time this year.
The Yank again had two runners on in the eighth but this time didnt score against Burton. With one out Tommy Rojas walked. Omir Santos then popped one up in no mans land in right field. The second baseman, first baseman and right fielder couldnt get to the ball. It would be a single. That would end up with runners on first and second with only one out. Carson then popped up to center for the second out. Vasquez then hit a foul pop up to third to end the inning.
Now came the fun, in the bottom of the eighth. Nordness started things off with a single to left. Gomez then would reach on a fielder's choice, with Nordness being out at second. The Yanks would make a pitching change and bring in Jamie Saldana. Kory Wayment then pitch hit for Schmidt. He would line one down the third base line. The play was originally called an error but it might've hit the bag so its a double down the left field line. The ball looked like it went through the third baseman. Wayment would end up on second, and Gomez would score to put the Cougars down only one run. The Yankees made a pitching change and brought in Francisco Villegas. McCurdy would line out to right for the second out. Colamarino then walked to put two runners on base. Baker then hit a bomb over the centerfield wall. There was no doubt about where the ball was going to go. That would put the Cougars up by two. The inning would end with a Nelson Cruz strikeout.
Yankees
| Name |
POS |
AB |
R |
H |
RBI |
| Gabe Lopez |
2B |
4 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
| Joaquin Arias |
SS |
5 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
| Jason Drobiak |
1B |
5 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
| Juan Camacho |
3B |
4 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
| Rudy Guillen |
CF |
4 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
| Tommy Rojas |
DH |
2 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
| Omir Santos |
C |
4 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
| Matt Carson |
LF |
4 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
| Willie Vasquez |
RF |
4 |
0 |
3 |
1 |
Cougars
| Name |
POS |
AB |
R |
H |
RBI |
| J.P. Schmidt |
CF |
4 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
| Kory Wayment |
PH |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
| Nick Rogers |
RF |
| John McCurdy |
SS |
4 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
| Brant Colamarino |
1B |
3 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
| John Baker |
C |
5 |
1 |
3 |
3 |
| Nelson Cruz |
RF/CF |
4 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Brian Stavisky |
DH |
3 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
| Jason Basil |
3B |
3 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
| Kirk Nordness |
LF |
4 |
2 |
3 |
0 |
| Francis Gomez |
2B |
4 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
E-McCurdy (7), LOB-Yankees-5, Cougars-8, RLISP-Yankees-3, Cougars-5, 2B-Drobiak (3), Basil (2), Wayment (2), Baker (6), 3B-Gomez (1), HR-Drobiak (4)(Dickinson)(7th inn, 1 run), Baker (2)(Villegas)(8 th in, 3 run), RBI-Lopez (5), Drobiak (10), Camacho 2 (7), Santos (6), Carson (4), Vasquez (6), Wayment (5), McCurdy (7), Stavisky )9), Baker 3 (15), Gomez 2 (11), 2 Out RBI-Santos, Carson, Vasquez, Drobiak, Stavisky (2), Baker 3 (8), SACF-McCurdy (1), CS-Vasquez (2), DP-McCurdy (4)(Garcia)(6-4-3)
| Battle Creek |
|
|
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
0 |
0 |
5 |
|
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
7 |
10 |
0 |
| Kane County |
|
|
1 |
1 |
0 |
|
0 |
0 |
3 |
|
0 |
4 |
X |
|
|
9 |
13 |
1 |
Yankees
| Name |
IP |
H |
R |
ER |
BB |
SO |
Decison |
WP |
BK |
HB |
AB |
BF |
GB |
FB |
| Manny Acosta |
5 |
6 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
ND |
0 |
0 |
0 |
20 |
24 |
6 |
4 |
89 |
52 |
| Anderson Garcia |
+4 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
1 |
0 |
ND |
0 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
14 |
6 |
| Josh Neitz |
2.1 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
ND |
0 |
0 |
0 |
8 |
8 |
3 |
1 |
32 |
22 |
| Jamie Saldana |
0 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
ND |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
1 |
| Francisco Villegas |
0.2 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
L (1-1) |
0 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
4 |
0 |
1 |
20 |
8 |
Cougars
| Name |
IP |
H |
R |
ER |
BB |
SO |
Decison |
WP |
BK |
HB |
AB |
BF |
GB |
FB |
NP |
| Drew Dickinson |
5.2+4 |
6 |
6 |
5 |
2 |
4 |
ND |
0 |
0 |
0 |
25 |
27 |
10 |
2 |
83 |
48 |
| Jared Burton |
2.1 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
W (1-0) |
0 |
0 |
0 |
8 |
9 |
1 |
5 |
31 |
15 |
| Jeff Muessig |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
SV (3) |
0 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
12 |
8 |
SO-Arias (7), Drobiak (10), Rojas (7), Carson (13), McCurdy (11), Colamarino (16), Cruz 2 (21), Nordness (11), Gomez (11), BB-Lopez (8), Rojas 2 (6), Colamarino (6), Cruz (7), Stavisky (10), Basil (4)
E-on Sue Waner (1)
A-2,010
H-(19,275)(6), A-(36,224)(8), T-(55,499)(14)
Notes-well i'm sorry to have to do this but, i'll probly hear about it tomorrow but oh well. Sue Warner gets an error on a pop up behind the Cougars dugout her first of the season.
Tomorrow's Starters
BC-Jose Garcia RHP (0-1, 1.59)
KC-Joe Blanton RHP (1-1, 2.08)
Alumni Report
Chris Aguila JAC-PH, 0-0, BB, R
Hector Almonte @ROC- 1 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 1 K
Chip Ambres JAC-CF, 1-4, 3B, R, RBI, E, K
Dennis Anderson DAY-C, 2-4
Jeff Bailey AKR-1B, 0-5, HBP, 2 K
Josh Beckett @NYM- 6 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 8 K, WP, 0-1
Anthony Brewer LC-CF, 1-4, HR(1)(S.Smith), R, RBI, 2 K
Miguel Cabrera JAC-3B, 2-4, 2B, RBI, SB, BB, E
Dave Callahan @TAM-LF, 1-4
Luis Castillo @NYM-2B, 2-5
Kevin Cave DAY 1 IP, 2 K, SV(3)
Chris Clapinski TAC-SS, 1-2, R, RBI, 2 BB, K
Will Cunnane NO-1 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
Matt DeMarco DAY-SS, 0-3
Todd Dunwoody CS-RF, 1-4, 2B, R
Matt Easterday DAY-2B, 1-4, R
Matt Erickson-@OK-DH, 1-1, 2B, R
Michael Flannery JAC-1 IP, 1 R, 1 BB, W(2-0)
Quincy Foster AKR-PR, 0-0, R
Jeff Fulchino LC-5.2 IP, 9 H, 6 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 3 K< L(0-2), HR(J.Sherrill), BK
Ross Gload IND-1B, 2-4, HR(1)(Mike Buddie), 2 R, RBI
Adrian Gonzalez @OK-1B, 0-4, 2 K
Alex Gonzalez @NYM-SS, 3-4, HR(5)(Mike Stanton), 2 R, 2 RBI
Kevin Hooper @OK-SS, 2-5, K
Ryan Jackson LOU-LF, 2-5, 2B, R, RBI
Charles Johnson SD-C, 2-3, HR(2)(Jacob Peavy), 2 R, 2 RBI, 2 B, BB, K
Jim Kavourias DAY-LF, 0-4, K
Chris Key DAY-0.1 IP
Mark Kotsay @COL-CF, 1-4, K
Jesus Medrano @OK-2B, 1-3, BB
Kevin Millar TOR-DH, 1-4, 2B, R, RBI, 2 K
Angel Molina LC-DH, 0-4, K
Todd Moser DAY 7 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 6 K, W(3-0), WP
Blaine Neal @NYM- 1 IP, 1 K
Drew Niles JAC-2B, 1-4, R
Matt Padgett JAC-RF, 1-5, K
Scott Podsednik HOU-RF, 1-3, 2 R, BB
Julio Ramirez SEA-PR/CF, 0-1, E
Mike Redmond @NYM-PH, 0-1
Eric Reed DAY-CF, 2-3, 2 BB, R, SB, K
Edgar Renteria ARZ-SS, 1-4, 2B, K
Brett Roneberg BOW-LF, 3-5, 2B, 3B, 2 RBI, R, K
Jose Santos DAY-3B, 0-2, 2 BB, RBI, SB, K
Will Smith JAC-PH, 1-1, R, 2B
Jason Stokes DAY-1B, 1-4, K
Michael Tejera @NYM- 1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB
Matt Treanor @OK-C, 2-4, 2B, 2 R
Michael Tucker LC-3B, 0-4, K
Claudio Vargas AKR-6 IP, 3 H, 2 BB, 8 K
Josh Willingham DAY-DH, 0-3, BB, K
Josh Wilson JAC-SS, 3-5
Randy Winn @ANA-LF, 1-3, RBI
Greg Zaun @MIL-C, 0-2, HBP, E
This Day In Cougars History (April 20)
1992, Cougars 1B Keith Schmidt hits two homers, including the first grand slam in Cougars history, and drives in seven runs. The Cougars pound the Madison Muskies 13-4.
1994, Andy Larkin and Felix Heredia combine for 11 strikeouts in the Cougars 3-0 shutout of Peoria.
1996, The Cougars win an ugly 14-13 game from Peoria. The game is marred by 21 walks, 1 hit by pitch and 12 errors. Nate Rolison, Amaury Garcia and Jamie Jones each hit a homer for the Cougars.
1997, David Borkowski of West Michigan no hits the Cougars 6-0.
2001, Marc Sauer, vs Clinton, 7 IP, 3 H, 1 K, W
Birthdays
Kris Clute, 2B (02)-79
Website http://members.core.com/~malshere
Thanks
David Malamut