Cougars close trip with loss

CLINTON, Iowa — A quality start from Pierce Johnson was nullified by the offense for the Kane County Cougars as they lost to the Clinton LumberKings 4-0 on Monday afternoon at Ashford University Field.

Johnson (1-3) surrendered 7 hits over 6 innings, yielding 3 earned runs while fanning six. Clinton (17-18) broke through against Johnson in the third when Ketel Marte led off with a single and scored on a Dario Pizzano double. Pizzano scored when Guillermo Pimentel hit a 2-run homer to put the LumberKings up by 3.

Tim Lopes singled with one out in the fifth and advanced to second when Pizzano reached on an error by Cougars shortstop David Bote. Two batters later, Patrick Kivlehan singled up the middle off Johnson’s glove to bring in Lopes.

Tyler Pike (2-3) worked the first 5 innings for the LumberKings, allowing only 3 hits. The only real Cougars threat came in the fifth after Pike walked David Bote with two outs and allowed a double to Yaniel Cabezas before Oliver Zapata popped out.

David Holman worked the next 3 innings out of the Clinton bullpen, and Oliver Garcia closed it in the ninth despite loading the bases. Jeff Antigua fanned five of the six batters he faced in 2 innings of relief following Johnson.

The Cougars return to Fifth Third Bank Ballpark on Tuesday to open a four-game series against the Peoria Chiefs at 6:30 p.m. Right-hander Ian Dickson will start for the Cougars against lefty Hector Hernandez.