Kane County Cougars suffer loss in 12 innings

BELOIT, Wis. — For the first time this season, the Kane County Cougars lost a game when leading after eight innings. They fell to 40-1 in those situations after losing 4-3 to the Beloit Snappers in 12 innings on Friday night at Pohlman Field.

The Cougars took three out of four in the series and went 4-3 on their seven-game road trip. They lead Clinton for the top playoff spot in the Western Division by 3 games with 30 remaining.

The Cougars led 3-2 heading to the bottom of the ninth inning. Chase Boruff retired the first two batters and later had the Snappers down to their final strike when Wang Wei Lin singled to center to score Daniel Santana. The 3-3 deadlock remained until the 12th when Chas Byrne replaced Boruff and got the first two hitters before giving up a single to Lance Ray and a double to Michael Gonzales for the game-ending run.

Greg Billo gave up 2 runs — 1 earned — on 3 hits over 6 innings for the Cougars, his sixth quality start in seven outings and the 17th time in 22 outings he gave up less than 2 earned runs.

The Cougars’ Angel Franco hit a 2-run homer in the sixth inning and added a solo shot in the eighth.