Smith sharp in Cougars' win

The host Kane County Cougars received 6 shutout innings from starting pitcher Murphy Smith and collected 10 hits en route to a 6-2 victory over the Cedar Rapids Kernels in Midwest League action Thursday night before 9,455 at Elfstrom Stadium in Geneva.

The Cougars, who are 5-2 on their homestand, took a 1-0 lead on Conner Crumbliss' homer in the third innning. They added 3 runs in the fourth on Max Stassi's RBI hit and Mitch LeVier's 2-run double.

Smith (6-0) faced the minimum in 5 of his 6 innings and gave up 3 hits, walked none and struck out three. The Cougars are 11-0 in games he started.

Fielders 6, RailCats 2: Starter Zach Ward went the distance for the second straight game, earning his fifth win in his last 8 starts, as the host Lake County Fielders earned a Northern League victory over the Gary SouthShore RailCats in Zion.

Ward (6-5) gave up a 2-run homer in the first inning, but he shut down the RailCats the rest of the game, allowing 5 hits in the next 8 innings.

The Fielders got an RBI double from Brian McFall in the first and an RBI single by Anthony Esquer (4-for-4) in the second. In the fifth, Esquer singled, Juan Valdes tripled to score Esquer and Amos Ramon singled to drive in Valdes. The Fielders added 2 runs in the eighth on Cody Strait's RBI double and Esquer's run-scoring single.

RiverHawks 6, Flyers 2: Jason James had 3 hits, including the 500th of his professional career, as the host Rockford RiverHawks beat the Schaumburg Flyers in a Northern League contest at Road Ranger Stadium.

Rockford starter Mike Wood (2-5) went 7 innings for the win, allowing 2 runs on 9 hits as the Flyers hit into 4 double plays. Flyers starter and loser Todd Moser (2-7) lasted just 12/3 innings.