Cougars keep rolling along
Friday's 7-0 victory over the Clinton LumberKings (24-22) improved the Cougars to 32-16 overall and 20-5 at Fifth Third Bank Ballpark.
Yasiel Balaguert quickly got the Cougars offense started with a solo blast to lead off the second inning. Balaguert's third home run of the season was also his second in as many at-bats. Three more runs came in the third inning, beginning with Carlos Penalver's 2-run single to score Shawon Dunston Jr. and Jake Hannemann. Two batters later, Balaguert produced again driving home Penalver with a basehit.
With two outs in the fourth inning, Jake Hannemann connected on a ground rule double to push the Cougars ahead 4-0.
Tyler Skulina pitched five scoreless innings to start the ballgame in his first appearance since his assisted no-hitter. Michael Wagner tossed his best outing as a Cougar with three shutout frames.
The Cougars added two more runs in the seventh and they took advantage of some wild LumberKing relief pitching. Blake Holovach walked four Cougars and allowed one hit as the Cougars increased their lead 7-0.
Skulina (3-1) knotched the win as Carlos Misell (5-3) suffered the loss allowing five runs in six innings on nine hits.