LumberKings drop Cougars 12-1

CLINTON, Iowa — The Kane County Cougars suffered their most lopsided loss of the season Monday night, getting drubbed 12-1 by the Clinton LumberKings at Alliant Energy Field.

The Cougars have lost two of the first three in the four-game set, and their lead over Clinton for the Western Division’s top second-half playoff spot is down to 1 game with 14 left in the regular season.

Cougars ace Greg Billo (9-4) suffered his second straight loss. He gave up 6 runs (1 earned) in the bottom of the first inning, and Clinton never looked back.

Billo tossed a perfect second inning and gave up 2 more in the third before leaving. He yielded 8 runs (3 earned) on a season-high 9 hits in 2⅔ innings with no walks and 2 strikeouts.

His minor-league-best ERA went from 1.56 to 1.74. Tyler Graham took over and gave up 4 runs on 5 hits in 3⅓ innings, and Cole White worked 2 scoreless innings.