The best offense in the league took a detour today, as they only managed two hits and no runs through eight innings. The Cougars also only had five base runners in those eight innings.
Devil Rays pitcher Billy Evers started and pitched well. He went four innings, giving up two hits and getting three strike outs. His only problem was the two walks that he gave up, that nearly cost him.
After that the Battle Creek bullpen was good. Drew Bigda threw two perfect innings, and Aaron Walker threw two shutout innings.
The Cougar offense just couldn't get nothing on track, as they didnt get a hit untill Anthony Recker singled with two outs in the second. Isaac Omura then struck out to end that inning.
Kane County's best chance against Evers was the third inning. Evers led off the inning by walking both Frank Martinez and Justin Sellers. Mike Massaro then grounded into a double play, with Martinez getting to third. Nick Blasi would groung out to end the threat. In the fourth inning, Jeff Baisley had a one out double down the left field line. A fly out and a strike out later, the Cougars hadnt put anything across the plate.
Jared Lansford started for the Cougars and struggled, he would give up a single run in both the first and the second innings. Then he would give up four more runs in the fifth inning. The fifth inning was a disaster.
In the first inning John Matulia led off the game with a walk, then was balked to second. Cedar Suarez bunted him over to third. J.T. Hall then grounded out to second, on the play Matulia scored. In the second inning with one out, Alex Jamieson walked. Christian Lopez then singled to third. Neil Walton singled to left to load the bases. Hunter Vick then reached on a fielder's choice, with Walton being out at second, and Jamieson scoring. Lansford was then able to get Matulia to ground out to end the inning.
Disaster struck in the fifth inning as Lansford was really wild, and the ump was really bad. With two outs, Matulia doubled to center. Suarez and Hall would then walk to load the bases. Lansofrd then hit Garret Groce to force in Matulia. Then Lansford hit Matt Spring to force in Suarez. Jamieson singled up the middle to score both Hall and Groce. After that Cougar manager Aaron Nieckula brought out the hook for Lansford and brought in T.J. Franco. Franco walked Lopez to reload the bases. Franco was then able to get Walton out on strikes to finally end the inning.
Lansford had retired ten Rays in a rown between then fielder's choice in the second and the double in the fifth. This is the first time Lansford has lost back to back games.
The Cougar bullpen did a nice job of holding the Rays at six runs. Franco pitched another inning and a third, giving up two hits. Ron Madej then came on and got a double play to end the seventh. He would pitch the eighth and be able to pitch around a two out walk. John Herrera got a double play to get out of the ninth inning.
Kane County did score some runs in the game, They even had a chance to come back and win the game. All of this in the ninth inning when they scored all four runs and got four of their six hits. Nick Blasi led off the inning with a single to center. Steve Kleen then walked. Jeff Baisley hit a three run homer to left to cut the led in half. One out later, Recker doubled to right center. The Rays then made a pitching change to bring in their closer Greg Dupas. Omura singled to center to get Recker to third. A wild pitch would allow Recker to score and Omura to get to second. Frank Martinez then came up and ground out to second for the second out, Omura would move to third on the play. Strike two to Justin Sellers was way low, but it was called a strike. Sellers would yell at the ump about that, as he shouldve. Then strike three was also a low called strike and that would end the game.
Devil Rays
| Name |
POS |
AB |
R |
H |
RBI |
| John Matulia |
CF |
3 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
| Cesar Suarez |
3B |
3 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
| J.T. Hall |
LF |
4 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
| Garret Groce |
RF |
4 |
1 |
3 |
1 |
| Matt Spring |
C |
4 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
| Alex Jamieson |
1B |
3 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
| Christian Lopez |
DH |
3 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
| Neil Walton |
SS |
4 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
| Hunter Vick |
2B |
3 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
Cougars
| Name |
POS |
AB |
R |
H |
RBI |
| Mike Massaro |
CF |
4 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Nick Blasi |
LF |
4 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
| Steve Kleen |
1B |
3 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
| Jeff Baisley |
3B |
4 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
| Jose Pineda |
RF |
4 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Anthony Recker |
C |
4 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Isaac Omura |
DH |
4 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
| Wes Long |
PR |
| Frank Martinez |
2B |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Justin Sellers |
SS |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
E-Hall, Jamieson, LOB, SWM-8, KC-5, RLISP, SWM-6, KC-4, 2B-Matulia, Baisley, Recker, HR-Baisley (Walker), SACB-Matulia, Suarez, SB-Martinez, CS-Groce, DP-Spring (Herrera)(5-4-3), Jamieson (Madej)(4-6-3), Massaro (Evers)(4-6-3)
| SW Michigan |
|
|
1 |
1 |
0 |
|
0 |
4 |
0 |
|
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
6 |
9 |
2 |
| Kane County |
|
|
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
0 |
0 |
4 |
|
|
4 |
6 |
0 |
Devil Rays
| Name |
IP |
H |
R |
ER |
BB |
SO |
Decison |
WP |
BK |
HB |
AB |
BF |
GB |
FB |
| Billy Evers |
4 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
3 |
ND |
0 |
0 |
0 |
13 |
15 |
4 |
4 |
| Drew Bigda |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
W (1-1) |
0 |
0 |
0 |
6 |
6 |
2 |
3 |
| Aaron Walker |
2.1+1 |
3 |
4 |
4 |
2 |
4 |
ND |
0 |
0 |
0 |
10 |
12 |
1 |
2 |
| Greg Dupas |
0.2 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
SV (15) |
1 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
3 |
1 |
0 |
Cougars
| Name |
IP |
H |
R |
ER |
BB |
SO |
Decison |
WP |
BK |
HB |
AB |
BF |
GB |
FB |
| Jared Lansford |
4.2+6 |
5 |
6 |
6 |
4 |
1 |
L (4-3) |
0 |
1 |
2 |
17 |
24 |
10 |
1 |
| T.J. Franco |
1.2 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
ND |
0 |
0 |
0 |
6 |
8 |
2 |
1 |
| Ron Madej |
1.2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
ND |
0 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
5 |
2 |
0 |
| John Herrera |
1 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
ND |
0 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
4 |
1 |
1 |
HB-Groce, Spring (Lansford), SO-Matulia, Groce, Spring, Lopez, Walton, Massaro, Kleen, Pineda, Recker 2, Omura, Kc-Massaro, Martinez, Sellers, BB-Matulia, Suarez, Hall, Jamieson, Lopez, Vick, Kleen, Martinez, Sellers 2
Alumni Report
Chris Aguila @NAS-CF, 1-3, GSHR(1)(Mabeaus), 2 R, 4 RBI, 2 BB, PiO
Antonio Alfonseca IA-IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, BB, L (0-1)
Chip Ambres @RR-RF, 1-2, R, BB
Jeff Baker LV-C, 0-2, BB, RBI, SACF, K
Joe Borowski @COL-IP, K, SV (7)
Travis Buck @ARK-LF, 0-4, BB
Jared Burton @ARK-1.1 IP, H, R, ER, 2 K, HR(Peel), L (4-1)
Miguel Cabrera @COL-3B, 3-5, R
Luis Castillo @OAK-2B, 0-4
Kevin Cave MIS-0.2 IP, 2 H, 4 R, ER, 2 BB, BS(2), L(0-1), HB
Brant Colamarino @ARK-1B, 4-5, HR(6)(Edens), 2 R, 2B, RBI
Vic Darensbourg DUR-0.2 IP, 2 K
--DUR-2 IP, 2 H, 2 K
Matt Erickson POR-PH/RF, 0-2
Andre Ethier PHI-PH, 0-0, BB
Ross Gload TX-1B, 0-4, 2 K
Adrian Gonzalez @PIT-1B, 1-3, 2B, BB
Kevin Hooper @OTT-SS, 2-4, R
Chris Key @TRE-IP, H, K, SV(1)
Brad Knox @ARK-4.2 IP, 10 H, 6 R, 6 ER, BB, K, PiO
Scott McClain LV-3B, 2-4, R, 2B
Brian Meadows TOR-IP, H, R, ER
Kevin Melillo @ARK-2B, 1-1
Randy Messenger @COL-0.1 IP, H, K
Kevin Millar NYY-1B, 1-2, HR(5)(Small), 2 R, 3 RBI, BB, HBP
Angel Molina MIS-RF, 0-2, BB, K
Jeff Muessig @ARK-2.1 IP, H, R, ER, HR(Aspito)
Drew Niles @NAS-2B, 0-3, R, BB, K
Matt Padgett @TRE-RF, 0-3, 2 R, RBI, 2 BB, K
Mike Redmond @OAK-PH, 0-1
Edgar Renteria ARZ-SS, 2-5, R, 3 RBI, HR(6)(Batista)
Brett Roneberg NH-DH, 0-3, RBI, K, SACF, GIDP
Edwardo Sierra HUN-1 IP, 2 H, K
Brian Snyder @ARK-DH, 2-5, HR(5)(Davidson), R, 2 RBI, K
Vasili Spanos @ARK-3B, 3-5, HR(8)(Edens), R, 2 RBI
Brian Stavisky @ARK-RF, 0-5, K
Matt Treanor @COL-C, 1-3, 2B, RBI, IBB
Lloyd Turner @ARK-2B, 0-3, K
Nic Ungs @NAS-6 IP, 10 H, 7 R, 6 ER, 3 BB, 2 K, L(6-5), HR(Koonce 2), WP, 0-2, 2 K, E
Josh Willingham @COL-LF, 2-5, R, 2 K
Randy Winn @ NYM-RF, 2-5, 2 R
Notes
In some stadiums there is the wave, in Kane County we have the Joe. Beer vendor Joe is so loud that you could hear him all across the stadium for years now. Well recently the fans have gotten into the act, but also calling out "cold beer" after he says it. We mightve won the game if the cheerleaders across the isle from me were maybe a little loader, and not busy dancing to every little bit of music that was played.
Ok More serious note. Jeff Baisley hit his 12th homer of the season. He is ahead of the pace that Jason Stokes set for homers back in 2002. Stokes has the record of 27. Stokes hit his 12th on the 6th of June, against South Bend. He didnt hit his 13th untill the 15th of June against Michigan. Baisley is also opening up a big gap in RBI's he is the league leader by 15. He also has the most in the minors. Jeff has 55 RBI's on the season. oh and by the way he also has a 15 game hitting streak going.
Tomorrow @ 7 pm vs South West Michigan Devil Rays (Tampa Bay)
Mike Wlodarczyk (5-2, 1.65), vs Vince Mazzaro (5-4, 5.07)
other Notes
Ranking of Midwest League Hotdogs (So far in 2006)
1.Cedar Rapids
2.Clinton
3.Beloit
4.Peoria (foot long)
5.Kane County (otherwise known as the Elfstrom Stadium "Death Dog")
Websites
Voice of A Season Ticket Holder
Minor League Database
Thanks
David Malamut