Bullpen rescues Cougars against Chiefs

PEORIA — Juan Paniagua started for the Kane County Cougars on Sunday at Dozer Park, but he managed to record only six outs. However, the bullpen came to the rescue with 7 scoreless innings as the Cougars earned a 6-3 victory over the Peoria Chiefs.

Paniagua walked four hitters in the bottom of the second, and the Chiefs (56-46, 18-17) scored on a bases-loaded pass to Ildemaro Vargas. Jonathan Keener’s sacrifice fly pushed home Nick Martini to put the Chiefs ahead by a pair.

In the third, the Cougars (40-60, 10-24) battled back against Brad Watson (2-4). Two singles and a walk loaded the bases for Rock Shoulders, who drove home 3 runs with a double and then scored on an error that gave the Cougars a 2-run cushion.

In the third, Paniagua gave up a run-scoring single to Jacob Wilson and left with the tying and go-ahead runs on base. Nathan Dorris (5-3) stranded both runners as he worked 2 shutout innings. Starling Peralta replaced Dorris and worked 3 scoreless innings in his Cougars debut.

Jeimer Candelario extended the Cougars’ lead to 2 in the top of the fourth with a single that drove home Albert Almora. Two innings later, Dan Vogelbach added a sacrifice fly that scored Giuseppe Papaccio. Armando Rivero earned his first save by recordingd the final six outs with 6 strikeouts, including the final four batters he faced.

The Cougars and Chiefs complete their three-game series today at 7 p.m. Right-hander Jose Rosario (0-6) starts for the Cougars against fellow righty Thomas Lee (3-1).