Peoria sweeps Kane County Cougars

PEORIA - Matt Pearce set a Midwest League record along with shutting out the Kane County Cougars (23-8, 59-40) through eight innings in the Peoria Chiefs' 4-0 victory Sunday night to sweep the series at Dozer Park.

Both teams were scoreless through the first four innings as Cougars starter Chris Oliver (2-1) stranded five runners but wasn't touched until the bottom of the fifth.

With the bases loaded and one out, Alex DeLeon ripped a bases-clearing double off the wall in left-center, boosting Peoria to a 3-0 lead. The Chiefs added a run in the sixth on Kenny Peoples-Walls' fourth home run of the year.

Matt Pearce (7-9) never allowed a Cougars runner to reach third base. The right-hander allowed 6 hits and struck out three through 8 scoreless innings. Pearce's outing also extended his streak of not walking a batter to 46⅓ innings. That set a Midwest League record, passing William Castro's mark in 1973 with Danville.

Dixon Llorens tossed a perfect ninth to seal the Peoria victory. It was the seventh time the Cougars have been shut out this season, the third time by the Chiefs.

The Cougars will enjoy an off-day before beginning a six-game homestand Tuesday at Fifth Third Bank Ballpark. The Burlington Bees with be the first opponent before the Cedar Rapids Kernels visit for the final three games.