September 6th, 2004
Lansing Lugnuts at Kane County Cougars
E-Chirinos, LOB-Lugnuts-4, Cougars-10, RLISP-Lugnuts-2, Cougars-5, 2B-Granato, Fox, Chirinos, Harriman, Wayment, 3B-Ingram, HR-Garcia (Trout), Wayment (Nolen), RBI-Marquez, Dopirak, Fox, Chirinos 2, Granato 2, Garcia, Fitzgerald, Appert, Spanos, Harriman, Kim, Wayment 4, Tritle, SACF-Spanos, SB-Walker, Spanos, CS-Tritle, Fox (Trout)(6-4-3)
HB-Garcia (Trout), Tritle (Fischer), SO-Walker, Collins, Larsen, Dopirak, Granato 2, Fitzgerald, Ingram, Rogers, Putnam 2, Tritle, BB-Ingram, Rogers 3, Putnam, Harriman, Wayment,
Somehow the Cougars came back from being down 9-6 after five innings, with a five run eighth to sqeek out a one run win. That avoids the sweep by Lansing, which wouldve been the first at home in a four game series since 97.
The Lunguts took the lead early. With a run in the first inning. Chris Walker led off the game with a single to right, then stole second, and went to third on a wild pitch. One out later, Brian Dopirak reached on a fielder's choice, the ball went to Vasili Spanos at third who threw home to David Harriman, the ball bounced away from Harriman and Walker was safe. Jake Fox grounded into an inning ending double play.
Alberto Garcia hit a two out solo homer to right center in the second to put the Lunguta up two. The Cougars answerd in the bottom of the inning with a run of thier own. Kory Wayment hit a two out solo homer to left center. In the third inning the Cougars pulled even with another run. Brian Ingram led off with a triple to center. Nick Rogers walked. Luke Appert would reach on a fielder's choice, with Rogers out at second and Ingram scoring.
The roof looked to have caved in on the Cougars in the fifth inning, as the Lugnuts scored seven runs. Garcia led off by being hit by a pitch. Carlos Rojas then singled to center. Ryan Fitzgerald singled to center to score Garcia. Chris Walker then singled to load the bases. Kevin Collins singled to right to score Rojas. Dopirak singled to left to score Fitzgerald. The Cougars then brought in the bullpen. One out later Robinson Chirinos singled to center to bring home Walker and Collins. Anthony Granato doubled to left to score both Dopirak and Chirinos.
Luckily the Cougars would show a little bit of life in them in the bottom of the inning by scoring four runs. Ingram and Rogers walked. Luke Appert singled to right to load then bases. Vasili Spanos then hit a sacrifice fly to right to score Ingram. All the runners would then move it a base on a throwing error by the second baseman on the relay home. Rogers scored. Dan Putnam walked. David Harriman then doubled to left to score Appert and Putnam. The Lugnuts then brought in a reliever. One out later, Kory Wayment walked. Chris Tritle was hit by a pitch, bases were now loaded. Ingram strikes out to end the inning.
The bullpen did a nice job for the Cougars, as J.R. Pickens, Mike McGirr and Jose Corchado and Jason Windsor combined for five innings of five hit ball. They gave up two runs and struck out five. McGirr pitched two perfect innings.
The Cougars took care of business in the eighth inning with five runs. With one out Appert singled to right. Spanos singled to right. One out later Harriman walked to load the bases. The Lugnuts then brought in a reliever. Eddie Kim grounded one up the middle and beat the throw to first. Appert scored. Wayment doubled to right to score Spanos, Harriman and even Kim from first. Tritle singled to right to score Wayment. Tritle would be caught stealing to end the inning.
Against Jose Corchado the Lugnuts would score one run in the ninth to make it a one run game. Walker led it off with a single to short. Drew Larsen pitch hit for Uriak Marquez and was caught looking for the first out. The Cougars then brought in Jason Windsor. Windsor struck out Dopirak. Jake Fox then doubled to center to score Walker. Chirinos poped out to second to end the game.