Kane County Cougars win rain-shortened slugfest

In a rain shortened ballgame, the Kane County Cougars (34-13, 70-45) grabbed the series opener from the Lansing Lugnuts (24-23, 66-51) with a score of 12-7. After seven innings, the game went into a 40-minute rain delay and was eventually called.

Even scoring 12 runs on the evening, the Cougars actually started the game trailing 2-0. Nick Baker (10-1) started the game and served up a 2-run homer to Chris Carlson in the third inning.

The lead was short-lived as the Cougars plated 4 runs in the bottom of the frame, receiving RBI knocks from Colin Bray, Marty Herum, Dawel Lugo and Michael Perez. After Lansing tacked on another run from Ryan McBroom's solo smash in the fourth, the Cougars pounced on with 6 more runs.

Henry Castillo doubled home both Chuck Taylor and Quinnton Mack with 1 out, which knocked out Lansing's starter Starlyn Suriel (8-7). The Cougars loaded the bases against the Lansing reliever and Joe Munoz cleared them with a 3-run double.

The Cougars offense put together 10 runs and 6 extra base hits by the fourth inning, finishing the evening with 14 hits.

Munoz ended the day with 4 RBI as Taylor, Herum and Regis all had mutli-hit games.

Baker also became the second consecutive Cougars pitcher to win his 10th game (Ethan Elias).