Cougars fall 2-1 in 10 innings
Neither club scored until the 10th inning Friday night, when the visiting Clinton LumberKings were able to get past the Kane County Cougars 2-1 at Fifth Third Bank Ballpark.
Clinton didn’t waste any time getting the first hit of the night as Patrick Brady started the game with a single off Tim Melville.
It wasn’t until the 10th inning that the LumberKings got their second hit. Kellen Moen (3-10) walked Jabari Blash with two outs for Mike Dowd, who reached on an infield single, putting runners on the corners.
Guillermo Pimentel batted for Jharmidy De Jesus, and he came through with a pinch-hit single to score Blash, breaking a scoreless tie.
Anthony Phillips followed with a run-scoring single to bring home Dowd, giving the LumberKings a 2-0 cushion.
Matt Brazis (1-0) preserved the lead although he did allow a one-out homer in the bottom of the 10th to Justin Trapp.
Brazis was unhittable otherwise as he punched out seven Cougars (61-62, 27-26) in 3 innings.
Mayckol Guaipe started for the LumberKings and scattered 8 hits over 6 innings, but the Cougars went 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position and left eight on base.
Melville lasted 4 innings for the Cougars, while Andrew Triggs retired all 12 batters that he faced in relief.