The Kane County Cougars clinched the wild card spot in the western divison for the first half. They are going to be playing extra baseball come September. That's the good news, the bad news is that they kind of backed their way into the wild card spot by losing the last five games.
Today they lost to the Peoria Chiefs 8-5, there were a combined 25 hits and three errors in the game. All but two of the runs in the game were scored in the first three innings.
The Cougars got ahead today early, they would score four runs in the first inning. Nick Blasi led it off with a walk. Isaac Omura then doubled down the right field line to get Blasi to third. Jose Pineda then hit one to the warning track in left, he just got under the ball. It would go for a sacrifice fly to allow Blasi to score. Jeff Baisley then hit a two run bomb to center to put the Cougars up three runs. One out later, Steve Kleen doubled to right center. Frank Martinez then singled to left to score Kleen. The Cougars wouldn't be quite done yet. Wes Long and Justin Sellers both walked, to load the bases with two outs. Blasi then came up again and lined one to short to end the inning.
The second inning wouldn't be to kind to the Cougars as the Chiefs scored twice. Kyle Reynolds led off with a homer to right center field. Alberto Garcia then singled to left. Two outs later, Robinson Chirinos walked. Mark Reed would then bloop one that landed between the second baseman and the right fielder. It looked like right fielder Jose Pineda called off second baseman Omura, then just wasnt able to get there in time. Garcia scored, Chirinos made it to third and Reed would get a double. Jesus Valdez then grounded out to end the inning.
Peoria took the lead in the third inning as they would score five times. With two outs!, Reynolds walked. Garcia then singled to center. A bad throw into the center of the diamond by centerfielder Nick Blasi would allow the runners to move up to second and third. On the missed cutoff man, Blasi would recieve an error. Jake Moyco then walked to load the bases. The Cougars then brought in Brad Kilby to relieve starter Ron Madej. Kilby would be greated with a single to center by Jonathan Mota to score both Reynolds and Garcia. Chirinos then singled to left center to score Muyco. A wild pitch by Kilby allowed mota to score and moved Chirinos to second. Reed then singled to left to score Chirinos. Leftfielder Long misplayed the ball and allowed Reed to get to second. Valdez then grounded out to the pitcher to end the frame.
Chiefs
| Name |
POS |
AB |
R |
H |
RBI |
| Robinson Chirinos |
2B |
4 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
| Mark Reed |
DH |
4 |
1 |
3 |
2 |
| Jesus Valdez |
RF/LF |
5 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
| Ryan Norwood |
1B |
5 |
0 |
3 |
1 |
| Yusef Carter |
CF/RF |
5 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
| Kyle Reynolds |
3B |
2 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
| Alberto Garcia |
LF |
4 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
| Davy Gregg |
CF |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Jake Muyco |
C |
4 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
| Jonathan Mota |
SS |
4 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
Cougars
| Name |
POS |
AB |
R |
H |
RBI |
| Nick Blasi |
CF |
4 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
| Isaac Omura |
2B |
4 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
| Jose Pineda |
RF |
3 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
| Jeff Baisley |
3B |
5 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
| Anthony Recker |
C |
4 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
| Steve Kleen |
1B |
5 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
| Frank Martinez |
DH |
4 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
| Raul Padron |
PH/DH |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Wes Long |
LF |
4 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
| Justin Sellers |
SS |
4 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
E-Blasi, Long, Mota, LOB PEO-10, KC-14, 2B-Reed, Omura 2, Kleen, HR-Reynolds (Madej), Baisley (Taylor), SACF-Pineda, SACB-Reed, Gregg, SB-Reed
| Peoria |
|
|
0 |
2 |
5 |
|
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
8 |
14 |
1 |
| Kane County |
|
|
4 |
0 |
0 |
|
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
0 |
1 |
0 |
|
|
5 |
11 |
2 |
Chiefs
| Name |
IP |
H |
R |
ER |
BB |
SO |
Decison |
WP |
BK |
HB |
AB |
BF |
GB |
FB |
NP |
S |
| Scott Taylor |
3 |
5 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
2 |
ND |
1 |
0 |
0 |
13 |
18 |
3 |
4 |
76 |
44 |
| Justin Rayborn |
3 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
4 |
W (4-1) |
0 |
0 |
0 |
12 |
14 |
4 |
1 |
61 |
33 |
| Matt Avery |
1.2 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
ND |
0 |
0 |
0 |
9 |
10 |
1 |
2 |
35 |
22 |
| Ed Campusano |
1.1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
SV (21) |
0 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
24 |
16 |
Cougars
| Name |
IP |
H |
R |
ER |
BB |
SO |
Decison |
WP |
BK |
HB |
AB |
BF |
GB |
FB |
NP |
S |
| Ron Madej |
2.2+3 |
6 |
5 |
5 |
4 |
0 |
L (2-2) |
0 |
0 |
0 |
12 |
17 |
4 |
3 |
69 |
34 |
| Brad Kilby |
0.1 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
ND |
1 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
4 |
1 |
0 |
17 |
11 |
| Joe Piekarz |
4 |
5 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
5 |
ND |
0 |
0 |
0 |
16 |
17 |
4 |
2 |
66 |
45 |
| Steve Sharpe |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
ND |
0 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
3 |
1 |
0 |
10 |
9 |
| John Herrera |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
ND |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
5 |
2 |
1 |
18 |
6 |
PB-Reed, SO-Reed, Norwood, Carter 2, Reynolds, Blasi, Pineda, Recker, Martinez, Padron, Long, Sellers 2, Kc-Chirinos, Muyco, Omura, Recker, Sellers, BB-Chirinos 2, Reynolds 3, Muyco, Mota, Blasi, Omura, Pineda, Recker, Long, Sellers
4:05 (:42 delay)
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