Billo stays stingy for Cougars

Greg Billo pitched was perfect through 5⅔ innings Wednesday night as the Kane County Cougars cruised past the Peoria Chiefs 6-0 at Elfstrom Stadium.

Billo lowered his ERA from 1.48 to 1.40, the best in the minor leagues among those who qualify, and Cheslor Cuthbert had 3 RBI to lead the offense’s 12-hit attack.

Cuthbert drilled a 2-run double off Austin Kirk (5-8) in the bottom of the first inning, and the Cougars never looked back. Billo (9-2) retired the first 17 batters he saw before yielding a clean single to Ben Klafczynski with two outs in the sixth.

Billo finished the inning, giving up 1 hit with no walks and 3 strikeouts. It was his seventh quality start in 9 outings and the 18th time this season in 23 appearances he gave up fewer than 2 earned runs.

Antonio Cruz worked the seventh inning and Chase Boruff handled the final two innings to finish the Cougars’ eighth shutout.