Ninth-inning rally helps Cougars demote Kernels

Entering Monday’s game against the Cedar Rapids Kernels at Fifth Third Bank Ballpark in Geneva, the Kane County Cougars were 0-53 when trailing after 8 innings.

After Monday’s game, the Cougars are 1-53. They scored twice in the bottom of the ninth to defeat the Kernels 4-3.

Jeimer Candelario sparked the Cougars in the bottom of the ninth as he sliced a double into the left field corner against Madison Boer (1-1). After Carlos Escobar popped out, Rock Shoulders blooped a base hit to right, scoring Candelario to tie the game at 3-3.

Boer walked the next two batters, one intentionally to load the bases for Reggie Golden, who came through with a sac fly to center, scoring pinch runner Jose Dore with the winning run.

Cedar Rapids (72-46, 32-18) scored the first run of the ballgame in the top of the first with Jonathan Murphy walking and scoring on a sacrifice fly. Kernels starter Josue Montanez didn’t allow a hit until the fourth, when the Cougars broke through with 2 runs on 3 singles.

Michael Heesch was sharp over 5 innings for the Cougars as he allowed just 2 hits before giving way to Al Yevoli.

Cedar Rapids scored twice against Yevoli in the top of the sixth to reclaim the lead. Yevoli came back with a scoreless seventh before Andrew McKirahan (2-0) worked 2 shutout innings.