Billo strong in Cougars’ win

Greg Billo, perfect through 5 innings, worked 7⅔ strong innings for a win, and Geulin Beltre hit a 2-run homer as the visiting Kane County Cougars defeated the South Bend Silver Hawks 4-2 on Monday night at Coveleski Stadium.

The Cougars went 4-2 on their six-game road trip, taking two of three in each series. They also remain in sole possession of both first place and the top playoff spot in the Western Division.

The Cougars never trailed Monday. Cheslor Cuthbert extended his hitting streak to seven games by singling home Brian Fletcher in the second, and Brett Eibner collected an RBI in the third by driving in Yowill Espinal.

Then Beltre nailed an opposite-field, 2-run homer in the fifth off Mike Bolsinger (3-5). It was Beltre’s first home run since May 20 and the Cougars’ 29th homer in 30 games since the all-star break.

Billo (8-2), who leads all of the full-season minor leagues in ERA, retired the first 15 batters before yielding a single in the sixth.

He retired the next three and saw the minimum in the seventh thanks to a double play before getting into trouble in the eighth and giving up 2 runs.

Billo allowed 5 hits, walked none and struck out five while his ERA went from 1.41 to 1.48. It was only the fifth time this season in 20 outings that he gave up more than 1 earned run.

Allen Caldwell finished the eighth and struck out three in the ninth to get his first save, as the Silver Hawks stranded the tying run at second base.