Cougars Blank Kernels, 4-0
May 18, 2013 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Kane County Cougars News Release
Cedar Rapids, Iowa - The Kane County Cougars scored four runs in the seventh, eighth and ninth innings to back Pierce Johnson's six shutout inning in a 4-0 victory over the Cedar Rapids Kernels on Saturday evening at Veterans Memorial Stadium on Saturday night.
Kane County Cougars (20-20) starter Pierce Johnson (2-3) surrendered six hits and worked around early trouble by striking out a career-high nine and walking one. Johnson stranded runners in scoring position in the first four innings. His toughest jam came in the fourth when the Cedar Rapids Kernels (28-13) loaded the bases on three consecutive singles to begin the frame. Johnson induced a pop out by Jhonatan Arias and struck out J.D. Williams before getting top prospect Byron Buxton to ground into an inning-ending fielder's choice. After the Kernels loaded the bases in the fourth, Johnson retired the next nine batters in a row to finish off his day.
The Cougars offense was stifled early by Kernels starter Jose Berrios (3-1) who worked 7.2 innings, allowing seven hits and two runs without walking one batter and striking out five. Kane County broke through in the seventh after Berrios recorded two quick outs in the inning. Gioskar Amaya was hit by a pitch to extend the frame before stealing second. Oliver Zapata followed that with a groundball up the middle that he beat out allowing Amaya to score on the infield RBI single. After that, Pin-Chieh Chen hit a double into right field to Adam Walker, whose throw back to the infield got away from the cutoff man and allowed Zapata to score.
Rock Shoulders added a solo home run in the eighth and Zapata went deep in the ninth.
Justin Amlung struck out three in two hitless innings out of the bullpen before Jeff Antigua worked a scoreless ninth while striking out two. The Cougars pitching staff struck out a season-high 14 batters.
The Cougars continue a seven-game, eight-day road trip with the second game of a four-game set against the Cedar Rapids Kernels on Saturday at 2:05 p.m., righty Jose Rosario (0-0) will make his Cougars debut against lefty Matthew Tomshaw (2-0). The Cougars will return home on May 25th for a doubleheader beginning at 3:30 p.m. against the Beloit Snappers. For tickets, please call (630) 232-8811 or visit www.kccougars.com.
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