Kane County at Burlington
April 8th, 2004
E-Kaaihue, Maier, LOB-Cougars-8, Bees-1, RLISP-Cougars-4, Bees-1, 2B-Perez (1), Castillo (1), Majewski (1), Maier (1), 3B-Kim (1), HR-Castillo (1)(Metzger), Figueroa (1)(Bondurant), SACB-McFall (1), SB-Sanchez (1) CS-Kim (1), DP-Harriman (1)(Kaanoi)(4-6-3), Donachie (Bondurant)(1)(5-4-3)
| Kane County |
|
|
0 |
0 |
5 |
|
3 |
0 |
0 |
|
0 |
2 |
0 |
|
|
10 |
11 |
0 |
| Burlington |
|
|
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
2 |
4 |
2 |
Cougars
| Name |
IP |
H |
R |
ER |
BB |
SO |
Decison |
WP |
BK |
HB |
AB |
BF |
GB |
FB |
NP |
S |
| Steve Bondurant |
6 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
3 |
W (1-0) |
0 |
0 |
0 |
20 |
20 |
8 |
6 |
72 |
46 |
| Brigmer Leon |
2 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
ND |
0 |
0 |
0 |
6 |
7 |
2 |
2 |
24 |
18 |
| Manuel Rodriguez |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
SV |
0 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
7 |
4 |
HB-Appert (1)(Christensen), SO-Kim (1), Snyder (1), Majewski (1), Tritle 2 (2), Wayment (1), Harriman (1), McFall (1), Donachie (1), Figueroa (1), Kc-Tritle (1), Kaaihue (1), BB-Perez (1), Appert 2 (2), Castillo (1), Kim (1), Snyder (1)
Notes-Well lets see another fun and exciting opener for the Cougars in the wonderful? town of Burlington. Well no Cougars fans were there but there was this pesty Yankees fan from Cedar Rapids that was there.
A nice way to start a season with a 10-2 victory over the Burlington Bees. The Cougars had timely hitting and great pitching to help then to the win.
Steve Bondurant pitched the first six innings, giving up three hits and one run. He didnt' give up a hit untill the third inning and the only run was a homer in the third. He retired the first six in a row, then after giving up three hits and one run in five batters, he retired the final nine in a row.
The offense looked good today as they pounded out eleven hits and ten runs. They were givin six free passes which accounted for three of the runs. David Castillo hit a eighth inning homer.
The Cougars started things off in the third, with one out David Harriman singled to center then went to second on a wild pitch. Luis Perez and Luke Appert both walked which would load the bases. David Castillo then lined out to center. Chris Lubanski made a nice diving catch on the play. Eddie Kim the triple to center to score Harriman, Perez and Appert. Rounding second Kim was huffing and puffing and I was begining to wonder if he was going to make it to third today. Biran Snyder singled to right to score Kim. Dustin Majewski then doubled to center to score Snyder, he would get to third on the throw home.
Danny Christensen started for the Bees and lasted into the fourth inning. He gave up six hits and eight runs, five of those runs would be earned. He also walked three and struck out two. In those four plus innings he threw 89 pitches, with 30 of them being in the third inning.
The Bees would sting back in the bottom of the third. Bryan Graham singled to second. Adam Donachie grounded into a double play that almost wasnt as the throws around the horn were kinda high. Anibal Figueroa then hit a solo homer to right field to break up the shut out.
Kory Wayment started things off again in the fourth as he singled to center. David Harriman popped one up near first base. The ifrst baseman Kila Kaaihue missed the popup to allow Harriman to reach on the error. Wayment hadnt run that far off of the first base bag because he though it would go foul.. Wayment had to hustle to second, the throw from Kaaihue to second went into left field, which ment all hands were safe on the error. Luis Perez then doubled just over the bag down the left field line to drive home Wayment. Luke Appert was hit by a pitch to load the bases. David Castillo grounded one to third, the third baseman Mitch Maier threw home to try to get the force. The throw was way wide which went that Harriman and Perez would score. The Bees would then make a pitching change and bring in Ambroxix Burgos, he would strike out the next three hitters to end the inning.
In the sixth inning the Cougars would have base runners on but wouldn't score. With one out Castillo doubled and Kim walked. Snyder would reach on a fielder's choice, with Kim being out at second. Majewski then grounded back to the mound to end the inning.
Maier doubled to right to lead off the seventh. Brian McFall put down a sacrifice bunt to move the runner along. Kaaihue grounded out to second. On the play Maier would score.
With one out in the eighth Appert walked, then Castillo would homer to right. Kim followed that up with a single to short. A coupl eof pitches later, Bees reliever Jon Metzger threw one to the backstop. Kim would try to get to second on the pitch but would be toast.
Bondurant pitched well in his six innings. Manuel Rodriguez pitched a perfect ninth on seven pitches. After the double in the seventh off of Brigmer Leon, the Cougars would retire the last eight in a row to end the game.
Burlington Hawk Eye
by Susan Denk
Opening day has not been kind to the Burlington Bees in recent memory. Dating back to 1999, the Bees had not started a season with a victory.
Thursday, Burlington hoped to break that string, playing at Community Field in front of a good April crowd of 1,282.
The streak continued, though as the Kane County Cougars jumped out to a 5-0 lead and went on to a 10-2 Midwest League win.
"That's not the way we hoped it would go." said Burlington manager Jim Gabella. "But it's early. It's going to take a handful of games to get their feet wet. They'll be all right."
The Burlington bats were stymied by strong outings by three Cougars pitchers, Steve Bondurant gained his first professional victory, hurling six innings of three hit ball. The only blemish on Bondurant's night was a third inning home runs by Bees' designated hitter Anibal Figuereo.
"First. I'd like to thank God for getting the opportunity to start on Opening Day." said Figuereo through teammate Walter Sevilla. "I've never started and I felt really good about that. I felt really relaxed out there."
In 2002 with the Bees, Figuereo hit three homer runs. He also had three home runs last season in the Arizona Rookie League.
Bees' Danny Christensen, whose only win last season came against Kane County April 29, cruised through the first two innings, allowing just a walk to David Castillo in the first. The second time through the batting order hurt the New Yorker. Four hits and a pair of walks led to five runs.
The fourth inning was more of the same. Two hits and a hit batsman were sandwiched around two errors, leading to two more runs for an 8-1 advantage.
"The big thing is pitchers have to learn to get the ball down in the strike zone and the pitches that were hit off him, he got them up" Gabella said. "Once he learns to throw the ball downhill and keep it down in the strike zone, he's going to be a lot better pitcher."
"Sometimes on Opening Day, you're excited, your adrenaline's flowing and you get out of sync with the mechanics a little bit and stuff like that. He's going to be ok."
Christensen left the game in the fourth inning after giving up eight runs, five earned, on six hits. He walked three and struck out two.
One of the brighter spots for Burlington came from the bullpen.
Ambiorix Burgos relieved Christensen, striking out the only three batters he faced. Jake Mullis gave up just two hits in the next two innings and Jon Metzger struck out two before a walk and a home run drove home Kane County's final runs. Kahi Kaanoi, allowed just a single in the ninth.
"They did a good job." Gabella said.
The Bees pitchers combined for eight strikeouts, against four for Kane County's pitchers.
Top Bees prospects Chris Lubanski and Mitch Maier had quiet debuts. Lubanski, the fifth pick overall in last year's draft, made a nice sliding catch in centerfield in the third inning but then seemed to misread the next hit that went to the wall for a triple. He went 0 for 4 at the plate.
Maier, the 30th pick, doubled in the seventh inning and later scored on Kila Kaaihue's groundout for Burlington's second run of the game. He committed one of the errors the Bees made in the fourth inning, throwing wide to home plate.
But Lubanski and Maier like a number of players on the Bees roster had spent all of their professional careers in the rookie league untill Thursday. It will take time for the players to adjust to this level of baseball.
"I'm not concerned at all the first handful of games," said Gabella. "I don't care if you've been in baseball 10 years, that Opening Day, there's always a little bit of jitters. It will just take some time to get our feer on the ground and get used to doing things we need to do."
Play By Play
Top 1st
Kane County
Luis Perez-grounds out to pitcher Christensen to first baseman Kaaihue
Luke Appert-flies out to left fielder Graham
David Castillo-draws a walk
Eddie Kim-ground out second base Keim to first base Kaaihue
Bees-Christensen throws 13 pitches, 6 strikes
Bottom 1st
Burlington
Chris Lubanski-pops out to short Gaffney
Angel Sanchez-flies out to right fielder McFall
Mitch Maier-grounds out pitcher Bondurant to first baseman Kim
Cougars-Bondurant throws 15 pitches, 9 strikes
Top 2nd
Kane County
Brian Snyder-pops out to rightfielder McFall
Dustin Majewski-grounds out to first baseman Kaaihue
Chris Tritle-grounds out to shortstop Sanchez to first baseman Kim
Bees-Christensen throws 12 pitches, 9 strikes, total 25 pitches 15 strikes
Bottom 2nd
Burlington
Brian McFall-grounds out to second baseman Sanchez to first baseman Kaaihue
Kila Kaaihue-grounds out first baseman Kaaihue to pitcher Christensen
Adam Keim pops out to left fielder Graham
Cougars-Bondurant throws 7 pitches, 5 strikes, total 23 pitches 14 strikes
Top 3rd
Kane County
Kory Wayment-strikes out, swinging
David Harriman-singles to center, moves to second on a wild pitch by Christensen
Luis Perez-walks
Luke Appert-walked to load the bases.
David Castillo-lined to centerfielder Lubanski
Eddie Kim-triples to center to score Harriman, Perez and Appert (3-0 Kc)
Brian Snyder-singles to right to score Kim (4-0 KC)
Dustin Majewski-doubles to center to score Snyder (5-0 KC)
Chris Tritle-strikes out
Bees-Christensen throws 30 pitches, 16 strikes, total 65 pitches, 31 strikes
Bottom 3rd
Burlington
Bryan Graham-singles to second.
Adam Donachie-grounds into a double play, third baseman Maier to second baseman Keim to first baseman Kaaihue
Anibal Figueroa-home run to right field (5-1 KC)
Chris Lubanski-grounds out to second baseman Keim to first baseman Kaaihue
Cougars-Bondurant throws 15 pitches, 8 strikes, total 38 pitches, 22 strikes
Top 4th
Kane County
Kory Wayment-singles to center
David Harriamn-reaches on an error on a foul pop out to first baseman Kaaihue. Wayment scored on throw by Kaaihue to second to get Wayment. Throws went into left. Wayment made it to second.
Luis Perez doubles to left, just over the third base bag to score Wayment (6-1 KC)
Luke Appert-gets hit by a pitch.
David Castillo reaches on a fielder's choie to third baseman Maier. Throw home is wide, allowing both Harriman and Perez to score (8-1 KC) and Appert to third.
Pitching Change-Ambioriz Burgos replaces Danny Christensen
Eddie Kim-strikes out
Brian Snyder-strikes out
Dustin Majewski-strikes out
Bees-Christensen throws 24 pitches, 15 strikes, total, 89 pitches 46 strikes, Burgos throws 21 pitches, 15 strikes
Bottom 4th
Burlington
Angel Sanchez-singles to right, steals second base.
Mitch Maier-flies to left fielder Perez
Brian McFall-strikes out
Kila Kaaihue-strikes out looking
Cougars-Bondurant throws 19 pitches, 11 strikes, total 57 pitches, 33 strikes
Top 5th
Kane County
Pitching Change:Jake Mullis replaces Ambiorix Burgos
Chris Tritle-strikes out looking
Kory Wayment-flies out to leftfielder Graham
David Harriman singles to left
Luis Perez pops out to second baseman Keim
Bees-Mullis throws 14 pitches, 9 strikes
Bottom 5th
Burlington
Adam Keim-grounds out to short stop Gaffney to first baseman Kaaihue
Bryan Graham-pops out foul to catcher Castillo
Adam Donachie-grounds out to short stop Gaffney to first baseman Kaaihue
Cougars-Bondurant throws 7 pitches, 6 strikes, total 64 pitches, 39 strikes
Top 6th
Kane County
Luke Appert-grounds out to second baseman Keim to first baseman Kaaihue
David Castillo doubles to center.
Eddie Kim walks
Brian Snyder-reaches on a fielder's choice, third baseman Maier to second baseman Keim, Kim out at second. Castillo to third and Snyder reaches first.
Dustin Majewski grounds out pitcher Mullis to first baseman Kaaihiue
Bees-Mullis throws 24 pitches, 15 strikes, total 38 pitches, 24 strikes.
Bottom 6th
Burlington
Anibal Figuereo strikes out
Chris Lubanski flies to right fielder McFall
Angel Sanchez grounds out to short stop Sanchez to first baseman Kaaihue
Cougars-Bondurant throws 8 pitches, 7 strikes, total 72 pitches, 46 strikes
Top 7th
Kane County
Pitching Change:Jon Mertzger replaces Jake Mullis
Chris Tritle strikes out
Kory Wayment lined out to right fielder McFall
David Harriman strikes out
Bees-Mertzger throws 17 pitches, 10 strikes
Bottom 7th
Burlington
Pitching Change:Brigmer Leon replaces Steve Bondurant
Maier doubled to right
McFall sacrifice bunt, pitcher Leon to first baseman Kim, Maier to third.
Kaaihue grounds out second baseman Appert to first baseman Kim. Maier scores (8-2 KC)
Adam Keim lines out to left fielder Perez
Cougars-Leon throws 11 pitches, 9 strikes
Top 8th
Kane County
Bees-Walter Sevilla replaces Angel Sanchez at short stop
Bees-Walter Sevilla replaces Adam Keim at second base
Luis Perez grounds out second baseman Keim to first baseman Kaaihue
Luke Appert walks
David Castillo homers to right field, Appert scores (10-2 KC)
Eddie Kim singles to short stop Gaffney, Kim is out after a wild pitch attempting to take second base.
Brian Snyder walks
Dustin Majewski pops out to center fielder Lubanski
Bees-Mertzger throws 23 pitches 10 strikes, total 40 pitches, 20 strikes
Bottom 8th
Burlington
Brian Graham flies out to left fielder Perez
Adam Donachie strikes out
Anibal Figueroa grounds out to first baseman Kaaihue
Cougars-Leon throws 13 pitches, 9 strikes, total 24 pitches, 18 strikes
Top 9th
Kane County
Pitching Change:Kahi Kaanoi replaces Jon Mertzger
Cougars-Danny Gibbons pitch hits for Chris Tritle, grounds out to first baseman Kaaihue to pitcher Kaanoi
Cougars-Brian Ingram pitch hits from Kory Wayment, singles to center.
Cougars-Trevor Brown pitch hits David Harriman, grounds into double play, second baseman Sevillia to shortstop Gaffney to first baseman Kaaihue
Bees-Kaanoi throws7 pitches 17 pitches 9 strikes
Bottom 9th
Burlington
Pitching Change:Manuel Rodriguez replaces Brigmer Leon
Chris Lubanski pops out to centerfielder Majewski
Mike Gaffney ground out to short stop Ingram to first baseman Kim
Mitch Maier grounds out to second baseman Appert to first baseman Kim
Cougars-Rodriguez throws 7 pitches, 4 strikes
Roster
Kane County Cougars
Steve Bondurant (10)
Jose Corchado (22)
Chris Dunwell (18)
Drew Freidberg (99)
Dan Fyvie (5)
Santiago Casilla/Jairo Garcia (12)
Brad Knox (34)
Brigmer Leon (45)
J.R. Pickens (8)
Manny Rodriguez (31)
Adiel Sanchez (77)
Jared Trout (17)
Trevor Brown (38)
David Castillo (7)
David Harriman (14)
Luke Appert (2)
Brian Ingram (6)
Eddie Kim (33)
Brian Snyder (15)
Vasili Spanos (21)
Kory Wayment (5)
Danny Gibbons (11)
Dustin Majewski (13)
Luis Perez (25)
Chris Tritle (22)
Burlington Bees
Greg Atencio (27)
Steve Bray (36)
Ambiorix Burgos (24)
Danny Christensen (23)
Dusty Dossett (8)
Alexis Encarnacion (40)
John Gragg (9)
Dusty Hughes (12)
Kahi Kaanoi (4)
Jon Metzger (28)
Jake Mullis (32)
Carlos Rosa (45)
Adam Donachie (21)
Brian Foster (15)
Anibal Figuereo (44)
Mike Gaffney (30)
Kila Kaaihue (11)
Adam Keim (2)
Mitch Maier (18)
Angel Sanchez (48)
Walter Sevilla (3)
Jeff Barry (39)
Bryan Graham (26)
Chris Lubanski (6)
Brian McFall (25)