Keller, Cougars blank Timber Rattlers

The Kane County Cougars managed only 3 hits, but they relied on clutch pitching to shut out the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers 2-0 Sunday night at Fifth Third Bank Ballpark in Geneva.

The Cougars (21-23) scratched out a run in the third inning when Dane McFarland reach on an error, moved to second on a walk, advanced to third on a single and scored on Victor Reyes' sacrifice fly.

Cougars starter and winning pitcher Brad Keller (2-4) worked 6⅔ innings and allowed 5 singles with 5 strikeouts. Keller left in the seventh with two runners on base, but Jency Solis needed only 2 pitches to escape the jam and retired the Timber Rattlers in order in the eighth inning.

In the bottom of the eighth, the Cougars' Colin Bray was hit by a pitch, took second on Reyes' single and scored when Marty Herum hit an RBI single that added to his nine-game hitting streak.

In the ninth, closer Zac Curtis allowed a leadoff single, then struck out the side to notch his eighth save of the season.

The Cougars can even the four-game series with a win in the finale today at 1 p.m. when Markus Solbach (3-2, 3.13 ERA) starts against Joshua Torres (0-1, 2.25).