Cougars win marathon 12-inning game over South Bend Cubs
The Kane County Cougars were nearly a victim of a no-hitter after the South Bend Cubs' starter Erick Leal tossed 9 innings of hitless baseball. The Cougars pitching staff prevented three different walk-off opportunities and stranded 10 Cubs' baserunners throughout the game. Recording only a Marty Herum single and a Henry Castillo double, the Cougars scored the lone run of the game without a hit in the 12th inning for a 1-0 win at Four Winds Field Tuesday evening.
Both teams were playing the clubs of their former Single-A affiliates. South Bend, formerly a Diamondbacks affiliate known as the Silver Hawks, are in their first year as the South Bend Cubs feeding the Chicago Cubs who were previously connected with the Kane County Cougars in 2013 and 2014.
If the game didn't feature a handful of familiar faces already, South Bend's starter was originally in the Diamondbacks' organization before being traded to the Cubs in 2013.
Leal handcuffed the Cougars offense. Colin Bray became the first Cougar to reach base as he drew a 1-out fifth inning walk. Facing just one over the minimum Leal left the top of the ninth inning to a standing ovation as he kept the Cougars hitless through nine frames with a walk and 4 strikeouts.
The Cubs weren't hitless against the Cougars, but they were scoreless. South Bend's offense left 5 base runners stranded against Wei-Chieh Huang, Jose Martinez and Jency Solis in eight innings. Luis Ramirez took his first inning in the ninth and brought the game into extras as he struck out the side with the game-winning run standing at second base. Ramirez's escape act in the bottom of the 10th may have been the biggest momentum swing of the game. The Cubs loaded the bases with nobody out on a single, a walk and a Ramirez error. After a fielder's choice provided the first out, Ramirez hit a check swinging Jeffrey Baez with a 2-strike count. Despite a brief celebration, the home plate umpire ruled that Baez swung at the pitch resulting in a strikeout and a dead ball. Ramirez completed the shut down by striking out Bryant Flete.
After both teams failed to score in the 11th, the Cougars grabbed the only run of the game in the top of the 12th. Victor Reyes led off the frame with a walk and was sacrificed over to second and Chuck Taylor's bunt. After a wild pitch moved Reyes to third. Ildemaro Vargas' sac fly was just deep enough to score the winning run.
Zac Curtis tossed a perfect 12th for his 24th save. Myles Smith (1-0) earned the victory as he kept the game scoreless in the 11th, despite walking three batters. Jordan Minch (0-4) suffered the loss in run-scoring 12th.
The Cougars and Cubs continue this series on Wednesday. Markus Solbach (9-3, 2.80) will take the mound against South Bend's Trevor Clifton (3-9, 5.00). First pitch is scheduled for 6:05 p.m. The game can be heard on AM 1280 WBIG and kccougars.com.