Kane County Cougars at West Michigan White Caps
June 10th, 2003
Bill Murphy pitched the fourth no hitter in Kane County Cougar history. It was the first one one the road. It would've been the first perfect game, but with one out in the ninth Chris Mapels walked. Murphy retired the first 25 in a row, and most of them were grounders to the infielders. He ended up throwing 103 pitches and getting 68 in there for strikes. This no hitter came three years to the day that Tommy Marx of the Whtiecaps no hit the Cougars in West Michigan.
Murphy pitched the no-no even though our faithfull? radio guy Mike A. tried to break it up by saying that he had a perfect game and then a no hitter going. Some people just dont know when to stop talking. Oh well, he is our radio guy. Bill had a first pitch strike to 19 of the 28 hitters he faced. Murphy also only had a three ball count of three Whitecaps hitters.
The scoring started in the third inning for the Cougars and they just kept on rolling in this one. Since this is the last game, finally!! of the 12 game raod trip it will be a happy ride home. Plus they have tomorrow off and are still in first place or at least tied for first. In the third inning with one out Francis Gomez singled to right. John Baker then hit a homer to right field off the top of the deck. It would get better, at least from a fans perspective. One out later Brian Stavisky doubled to right. Jason Basil then hit one to left that could've been a homer. Leftfielder Demetruis Heath jumped up over the wall and took away the homer. As he landed the fall might've knocked him out a little, since the centerfielder had to come over and take the glove off his hand and show the ball in the glove to the ump for the out call. That would be the third out of the inning. For some reason Cougars manager Webster Garrison was arguing with the ump after the call, and got tossed from the game.
They would score one run in the fourth inning also. Brant Colamarino lead off with a single to right. Nick Rogers was hit by a pitch. The Caps then took out their starter Matt Pender, and brought in reliever Matt Paris. John McCurdy then singled to left to load the bases. Marcus McBeth would single to center to score Colamarino. Rogers would be out at the plate trying to score.
The icing was put on the cake in the eighth when the Cougas would score three runs. With one out Brian Stavisky walked. Jason Basil then singled to right. Paris had Stavisky picked off at second, he threw to the short stop Juan Gonzalez who tried to throw to third base, but hit Stavisky in the back with the throw and the ball rolled into left field. Stavisky would score and Basil would get to third on the play. Colamarino then hit a homer just inside the foul pole to right. It was his seventh of the year, and his third this series. He has hit all seven homers on the road.
In the first inning the Cougars had a chance to score some runs. With one out Gomez singled to left. John Baker then singled to right to put runners on first and second. Nelson Cruz then lined one to left and left fielder Demetruis Heath made a nice jumping catch against the wall. Stavisky then struck out to end the inning.
More fun for the Cougars in the second, or at least it could've been fun. With two outs Nick Rogers singled to short. John McCurdy then singled to right. Rogers tried to get to third on the play and would make the third out at third base.
Francis Gomez had two hits, in the first three innings and was on base four times. John Baker had two hits, including a homer and two runs batted in. Brant Colamarino had two hits, including a homer. He would score twice and drive in two runs. John McCurdy had two singles.
| Kane County |
|
|
0 |
0 |
2 |
|
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
0 |
3 |
0 |
|
|
6 |
12 |
0 |
| West Michigan |
|
|
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
0 |
0 |
1 |
E-Gonzalez, LOB KC-7, WM-1, 2B-Stavisky, HR-Baker, Colamarino, HBP-Gomez, Rogers
Cougars
| Name |
IP |
H |
R |
ER |
BB |
SO |
Decison |
| Bill Murphy |
9 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
8 |
W (6-4) |
HB-Pender, Parris, SO-Baker 2, Cruz 3, Stavisky 2, Rogers 2, McCurdy, Heath 3, Reynolds 2, Clevlen, Rabelo 2, BB-Stavisky, Maples
T-2:17, A-5,536