Kane County Cougars walk off in ninth

Posted July 12, 2015 4:01 pm

Daily Herald News Services

Ildemaro Vargas sent 6,169 fans home happy when he belted a pinch-hit 2-run homer over the left field wall for a 3-1 Kane County Cougars (15-3, 51-35) walk-off winner over the Cedar Rapids Kernels (11-7, 52-36) on Sunday.

Tied at 1 into the bottom of the ninth, Joe Munoz drew a 1-out walk to put the potential winning run on the bases. After Henry Castillo reached on a fielder's choice, manager Mark Grudzielanek brought in Vargas to pinch hit for Galli Cribbs.

Vargas then lifted his second home run of the season off reliever Brandon Bixler (1-1). It was the first walk-off home run for the Cougars almost a year. The last Cougars game-ending homer was by Jeimer Candelario on July 14th, 2014, against the Beloit Snappers.

Cedar Rapids tied the game in the top of the eighth off Cougars starter Markus Solbach, who went seven innings without allowing a run. Cody Geyer stranded the pair of runners he inherited to keep the game tied into the bottom of the ninth.

The Cougars scored the first run of the ball game on Michael Perez's sacrifice fly to center field, bringing home Marty Herum.

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