Pena pitches Cougars to win

BELOIT, Wis. — Felix Pena matched a season-high with 7 strikeouts over 6 solid innings to pace the Kane County Cougars past the Beloit Snappers with a 4-1 victory on Friday night at Pohlman Field.

Pena (4-3) was given an offensive boost early as the Cougars (39-59, 9-23) claimed the lead in the top of the second. Marco Hernandez singled, stole second and took third on a wild pitch before scoring on a Reggie Golden groundout.

In the third, the Cougars manufactured a second run against Beloit (62-41, 19-14) starter Dakota Bacus (8-4). Gioskar Amaya slammed a double off the wall in left-center and advanced to third on another wild pitch before crossing the dish on a sac fly from Dan Vogelbach.

It became a 4-0 cushion for the Cougars in the top of the fourth. Hernandez picked up another base hit and was quickly brought around the bags as Willson Contreras blasted an opposite-field, two-run homer. Beloit finally got one back against Pena in the home half of the fourth with Christopher Bostick getting hit by a pitch to start the frame and coming home on a John Wooten single.

Beloit never had another runner reach third base as Pena cruised through six while giving up just four singles. Andrew McKirahan, Stephen Perakslis and Michael Hamann each worked a scoreless frame in relief to close out the victory.