Cougars pop the Kernels

The Kane County Cougars scored 6 runs in the first two innings Thursday night, and that was enough.

They held on to defeat the visiting Cedar Rapids Kernels 6-5 at Elfstrom Stadium, evening the three-game set at one win apiece.

The Cougars trailed 2-0 in the bottom of the first when Cheslor Cuthbert drilled a two-out, 3-run homer off P.J. Jang (2-1).

The blast pushed Cuthbert’s hitting streak to 10, the longest by a Cougar this season.

The Kernels tied the game in the second with a run off Jason Adam, but the Cougars scored 3 more in the bottom half and never gave back the lead.

Kevin David drew a bases-loaded walk, and Yowill Espinal and Geulin Beltre scored on a throwing error for a 6-3 lead.

Adam (4-6) earned the win after yielding 4 runs on 6 hits over 5 innings. He walked one and struck out one.

Mike Giovenco gave up a run in 2 innings of relief, and Nick Rogers notched his fourth save by working the final 2 innings.

The Cougars’ offense went 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position and stranded eight.

Fielders lose two:After a two-day break (a scheduled day off and a rainout), the Fielders went into Tuesday#146;s doubleheader looking to improve after winning just 2 of their last 10 games.Instead, they dropped the doubleheader to the host Calgary Vipers, falling 13-4 and 4-0.