Cougars’ offense hot

The Kane County Cougars’ red-hot offense continued its work Sunday, knocking out 16 hits and leading the team past the host Peoria Chiefs 6-1 at O’Brien Field.

The Cougars swept the three-game series and had 10-plus hits in each contest with a total of 43.

Every Cougar who played Sunday had at least 1 hit, and the Cougars notched a hit in all nine innings. The Cougars also got 7 strong innings from starter Leonel Santiago (6-6), who pitched his 11th quality start in his last 13 outings.

Cheslor Cuthbert bounced into a bases-loaded double play in the first against Hayden Simpson (1-5) to make it 1-0, and Peoria got its only run of the contest in the fourth.

The Cougars took full command with a 3-run sixth. Orlando Calixte delivered a bases-loaded infield RBI single, and a Peoria error on the same play brought home Cuthbert and Ryan Stovall to make it 4-1. Stovall added a 2-run homer in the eighth.

Santiago gave up 1 run on 5 hits. He walked none and has issued just 2 walks over his last 31⅓ innings.

On Saturday night, Brian Fletcher hit 2 home runs and collected 7 RBI as the Kane County clobbered the Chiefs 11-5. The game had two delays totaling 2 hours, 42 minutes.