CEDAR RAPIDS, IA - For the seventh time in nine seasons and 13th time overall in 21 years, the have reached the Midwest League playoffs. They beat the Cedar Rapids Kernels, 4-3, on Wednesday night at Veterans Memorial Stadium to clinch a post-season berth.
The Cougars have five games left in the regular season and currently hold the Wild Card spot. But they are 2.5 games behind Clinton for the top spot and host the LumberKings for three games this weekend to close out the regular season.
The Cougars never trailed Wednesday. Brett Eibner tripled and scored in the second and singled and scored in the fourth off Brian Diemer (9-11) to make it 2-0. Then Geulin Beltre tripled and scored on an error in the sixth for a 3-0 game. Jason Mitchell dominated in his return to the starting rotation. He tossed 5 2/3 innings of three-hit shutout ball and has not allowed a run in his last 21 1/3 innings. Mitchell (3-0) walked one and fanned four in the win.
Antonio Cruz yielded the Kernels' first run, an unearned tally in the eighth, but the Cougars offset that with a run-scoring double by Angel Franco in the top of the ninth that made it 4-1. Nick Rogers notched his eighth save in as many chances by working the ninth. He yielded two runs and had the tying and winning runs on base when he got Justin Bass to ground out to end the contest and ignite the on-field celebration. The Cougars' offense totaled 11 hits in the game, and their leadoff hitter reached base seven times in nine frames. They began the season 0-6 against the Kernels but have won eight of the last 10 head-to-head meetings.
The Cougars (35-30, 63-71) and Kernels (27-38, 59-76) continue the three-game series Thursday night at 6:35 CT. Greg Billo (9-5, 1.94) gets one more chance at a 10-win season and faces P.J. Jang (2-6, 4.52). The game will be broadcast on WBIG 1280-AM and online via kccougars.com with pregame coverage starting at 6:20 p.m.
Players of the Game:
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This article is courtesy of the Kane County Cougars.
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PLAYOFFS SCHEDULE
2011 MWL Playoffs - Home Game A Wednesday, September 7 - 6:00 pm
2011 MWL Playoffs - Home Game B Saturday, September 10 - 4:00 pm
**OR**
Sunday, September 11 - 4:00 pm
2011 MWL Playoffs - Home Game C Monday, September 12 - 6:00 pm (if necessary)
2011 MWL Playoffs - Home Game D Saturday, September 17 - 4:00 pm
2011 MWL Playoffs - Home Game E Sunday, September 18 - 4:00 pm (if necessary)
2011 MWL Playoffs - Game F Monday, September 19 - 6:00 pm (if necessary)
