Fort Wayne Wizards at Kane County Cougars
Friday, May 31st, 2002
Phillip B. Elfstrom Stadium, Geneva, Illinios


The Cougars lost another game today in the late innings, as thier bullpen could not hold the lead. Most of the bullpen pitched well, it was just the ninth inning that skined the Cougars.

In the ninth the Cougars had a one run lead and had brought in their closer, Kevin Cave. He procedded to struggle through the inning and ultimatly the game came down to one play in which at this level of the minors I know that they are still learning the game.

Ronaldo Belizario made the start for the Cougars and pitch effectivly for five innings. He gave up four hits and two runs. Only one of those runs were earned. The one thing that hurt him were the four walks that he issued to Wizard hitters, one of them would score. That one run was the one earned run he gave up.

In the second inning Fort Wayne scored the other run. Jon Bencik would reach on a catcher's interferance call on Winton Zapay. Nick Trzesniak then walked. John DiBetta flied out ot right. On the play Benick would tag up and go to third. Keto Anderson then reach on a fielder's choice at second. On the play Benick scored.

The Cougars though scored first in this game. In the bottom of the first, Charles Frazier led things off with a grounder to short, and just beat the throw. Hunter Wyant then singled to right. Jason Stokes struck out. Scott Hicks then doubled to left to score Frazier.

Belizario would get into a jam in the fourth. Greg Sain led off with a single to center. Jon Benick reached on a fielder's choice, on the play Sain was out at second. Nick Trzesniak walked. John DiBetta then grounded out to short, on the play the runners moved along to second and third with two outs. Keto Anderson grounded out to short to end the inning.

The Wizards would come back and score some more in the fifth. With one out Pedro De Los Santos walked. He stole second and third. Josh Barfield then singled to left to score Santos.

The Cougars would get the lead back in the bottom of the inning. With one out Rex Rundgren singled to center. Anthony Brewer doubled to left, to get Rundgren to third. Charles Frazier then doubled to left to score both Rundgren and Brewer.

A storm was brewing in the ninth after the Cougars brought in Cave. He was able to get Keto Anderson to hit a high pop out ot left to start out the inning. Jackson Aquino then singled to right, he would get to second on a wild pitch. De Los Santos then singled to right to score Aquino. Santos would get to second on the throw home. Then he would steal third. Josh Barfield struck out. Catcher Zapay dropped the ball and had to throw to first to get the out. The only problem was he had time but did not look the runner back at third. As soon as he let go of the ball Santos broke for home and was safe, the Wizards took the lead on that play. The next hitter Joe Hastings then took Cave deep onto the deck in right.

In the bottom of the ninth the only highlight for the Cougars was the solo homer by Jason Stokes.

Wizards
Name POS AB R H RBI
Pedro De Los Santos CF 4 2 1 1
Josh Barfield 2B 5 0 1 1
Joe Hastings LF 5 1 3 2
Greg Sain DH 5 0 1 0
Jon Benick 1B 4 1 0 0
Nick Trzesniak C 1 0 0 0
John DiBetta 3B 4 0 0 0
Keto Anderson RF 4 0 0 1
Jackson Aquino SS 3 1 1 0
Cougars
Name POS AB R H RBI
Charlie Frazier RF 4 1 2 2
Hunter Wyant 2B 5 0 1 0
Jason Stokes 1B 5 1 1 1
Scott Hicks LF 5 0 2 1
Winton Zapay C 4 0 0 0
Michael Tucker 3B 3 0 0 0
Kris Clute DH 3 0 0 0
Rex Rundgren SS 3 1 2 0
Anthony Brewer CF 4 1 1 0
E-Aquino, Zapay, LOB-Wizards-7, Cougars-9, RLISP-Wizards-5, Cougars-6, 2B-Hastings, Frazier, Brewer, HR-Hastings (Cave), Stokes (Tucker), RBI-Santos, Barfield, Hastings 2, Anderson, Frazier 2, Stokes, Hicks, SACB-Rundgren, SB-Santos 3, Frazier, Brewer
Fort Wayne 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 3 5 7 1
Kane County 1 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 1 4 9 1
Wizards
Name IP H R ER BB SO Decison WP BK HB AB BF GB FB
Jon Huber 5 7 3 3 1 6 ND 1 0 0 23 24 4 5
Ben Fox 2 0 0 0 2 2 ND 0 0 0 5 8 3 1
Rusty Tucker 2 2 1 1 0 5 W 0 0 0 8 8 1 0
Cougars
Name IP H R ER BB SO Decison WP BK HB AB BF GB FB
Ronald Belizario 5+1 4 2 1 4 2 ND 0 0 0 20 24 6 6
John Skinner 2 0 0 0 1 3 ND 0 0 0 6 7 1 2
Wes McCrotty 1 0 0 0 0 1 ND 0 0 0 3 3 2 0
Kevin Cave 1 3 3 3 0 2 L 1 0 0 6 6 0 1
WP-Huber, Cave, SO-Santos 2, Hastings 2, Sain 2, Benick, Frazier 2, Wyant 2, Stokes, Hicks, Tucker 2, Clute 2, Rundgren, Brewer, BB-Santos, Trzesniak 3, Aquino, Tucker, Clute
A-9395
H-(118,095)(23), A-(79,195)(27), T-(200,347)(49)



Notes-well lets see where to start today, it was baseball card giveaway day, and all of the players arms must've hurt after signing all of those cards, not just Clute's arm from yesterday. I got my share of autos also.


John Skinner and Wes McCrotty's effort today should not go unnoticed they pitched very well. They combined to go 3 ip, 0 h,0 r, 0 er, 2 bb, 4 k


Alumni Report

New York Mets 6, Florida 5
A.J. Burnett, 5 ip, 5 h, 3 r, 3 er, 4 bb, 8 k, WP
Hansel Izquierdo, 0.2 ip, 1 h, 1 r, 1 er, 2 bb, 0 k, HB
Luis Castillo-2B, 1-5, 2 K
Kevin Millar-LF, 1-4, HR(4)(Pedro Astacio)2 RBI, R, K
Charles Johnson-C, 1-3, BB, K
A.J. Burnett-P, 0-1, K

Calgary 6, Omaha 2
Kevin Hooper-SS, 1-5, K
Matt Erickson-DH, 0-4, BB

Clearwater 2, Jupiter 12
Randy Messenger, 6 ip, 5 h, 1 r, 1 er, 0 bb, 5 k, W(7-2)
Marc Sauer, 1 ip, 1 h, 0 r, 0 er, 0 bb, 1 k
Chip Ambres-CF, 3-4, HR(4)(P.Carter) 2 R, 2 RBI, SB, BB
Josh Wilson-SS, 0-5, K
Miguel Cabrera-3B, 1-5, R, 2 K
Pat Magness-1B, 1-2, 2 R, 2B, RBI, 3 BB
Will Smith-LF, 2-5, 2B, R
Matt Easterday-2B, 2-3, 2 R, 2B, 2 BB
Jim Kavourias-RF, 2-4, 2B, 2 R, 2 RBI, HBP, K

Jeff Bailey (HAR)1B, 0-2, BB, K
Chris Clapinski (LV)2B, 3-3, HR(5)(Josue Matos), 2 RBI, R
Todd Dunwoody (BUF)RF, 0-4, K
Ross Gload (COLSP)1B, 0-4
Mark Kotsay (SD)CF, 2-3, 2B
Ryan Jackson (TOL)RF, 0-4
David Noyce (WT) 1 ip, 0 h, 0 r, 0 er, 2 bb, 1 k
Alex Ochoa (Mil)RF, 0-2, R
Scott Podsednik (TAC)LF, 1-3, SB, BB, 2 K
Julio Ramirez (ANA), PR/CF, 0-1, K
Nate Rolison (TAC) DH, 1-3, R, BB, 2 K
Randy Winn (TB)CF, 3-6, R, RBI, K
Gregg Zaun (Hou) C, 1-3, BB



This Day In Cougars History
5/31/95, Walter Miranda throw a 7 inning complete game three hitter, but a pair of unearned runs are costly, as the Cougars rally from a 4-1 deficit and salvage the split with a 8-7 win in game 2. Todd Cady's three run double is the big hit for the Cougars.



Remember to vote on who you think should be the Cougars player and pitcher of the month for May. You can vote on my website at members.core.core/~malshere


Thanks
David Malamut