Cougars End Skid on Independence Day
Published on July 5, 2018 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Kane County Cougars News Release
CLINTON, Iowa - The Kane County Cougars (5-9, 40-43) stranded 12 Clinton LumberKings (9-4, 48-36) as they held on for a 7-4 victory from Ashford University Field Wednesday evening. The Cougars ended their five-game losing streak as Erbert Gonzalez picked up his first save of the year with the tying run at the plate.
After bringing a five-run lead into the ninth inning, Cougar reliever Jake Winston coughed up two walks, an RBI double and a hit batsman to bring the tying run to the plate. Gonzalez took over with the bases loaded and nobody out. After an RBI fielder's choice by Keegan McGovern, Gonzalez struck out both Johnny Adams and Onil Pena to close the door on the Cougars' first victory in the last six days.
Despite Clinton threatening almost every inning, the Cougars never trailed thanks to some early offense.
Jancarlos Cintron singled home Ryan Grotjohn in the second inning for the first run of the game. In the third frame, the Cougars pulled away.
With the bases empty and two out, the Cougars sparked a four-run rally for a 5-0 advantage. Ernie De La Trinidad and Eudy Ramos each coaxed a walk, then Ryan Grotjohn laced a two-run triple off of the right field wall. Eudy Ramos then belted his fourth homer of the year sending a 1-0 pitch 403 feet over the left center field wall. All of the runs came off of Clinton starter Ray Kerr (3-8)
The 5-0 lead would be enough, but the Cougars added another pair of runs in the seventh on a solo shot from Luis Silverio and Ramos scoring on an error.
Clinton didn't find the scoreboard until the fifth inning as Onil Pena came home on a Jhoan Duran (5-3) wild pitch. Duran fell one out shy of a quality outing, but still picked up the win in a big bounce back outing. Abraham Almonte earned a hold with two innings of one-run baseball, which was unearned. Almonte collected four strikeouts along with striking out the side in in the sixth.
The Cougars hope to salvage a series split against Clinton in the series finale on Thursday. Brian Shaffer takes on LumberKing right-hander Scott Boches. First pitch from Ashford University Field is at 6:30. Coverage on AM 1280 WBIG and kccougars.com begins at 6:15 p.m.
Midwest League Stories from July 5, 2018
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- 5,441 see LumberKings fall to Cougars on the fourth - Clinton LumberKings
- Cougars End Skid on Independence Day - Kane County Cougars
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