Contreras delivers in Cougars win
Willson Contreras delivered a pinch triple that snapped a 4-4 tie in the eighth inning, helping the Kane County Cougars earn a 7-4 win over the Burlington Bees at Fifth Third Bank Ballpark in Geneva on Wednesday.
Marco Hernandez began the bottom of the eighth by reaching first on a wild pitch after striking out. Carlos Escobar bunted Hernandez to second to set the stage for Contreras, who then scored on a wild pitch as did Gioskar Amaya to put the Cougars ahead by 3.
Stephen Perakslis worked a scoreless ninth to earn his fifth save. Winning pitcher Sheldon McDonald (2-0) had thrown 22⁄3 innings of relief, giving up 1 run on 1 hit. Michael Heesch started for the Cougars (46-64, 16-28) and worked 51⁄3 innings, allowing 3 runs on 7 hits.
Rock Shoulders had an RBI single and Jeimer Candelario delivered an RBI triple.
The Cougars and Bees play the second of their three-game series today at 6:30 p.m. Right-hander Starling Peralta (1-0) will start for the Cougars against righty Pat Lowery (4-6).