Kane County Cougars fall in series finale

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - For the second straight day, the Kane County Cougars (37-15, 73-47) outhit the Cedar Rapids Kernels (29-23, 70-52) but lost the contest as they dropped the series finale 2-1 on Thursday.

The Cougars lone run came in the top of the second innings as Marty Herum slapped a solo homerun over the left field wall for a 1-0 Cougars' lead. The Cougars first baseman retook the team lead in homers with his sixth long ball of the year.

Wei-Chieh Huang (7-3) kept the Cougars in front despite Cedar Rapids loading the bases in the third inning. The Cougars starter struck out TJ White to strand all three runners.

The Kernels grabbed the lead on one play in the bottom of the fourth. With Zack Larson at second base, Brian Navaretto singled home the Kernel left fielder to tie the game. Navaretto took off for second base on the throw home, and a bad throw from Michael Perez sailed into center field allowing the Kernel catcher to score all the way from second base. The 2-1 Cedar Rapids lead held for the rest of the ballgame.

Huang finished with a quality outing of six innings, allowing 2 runs, one earned, on 2 walks and 4 hits. Ryan Burr put together two perfect innings including 5 strikeouts in the final two frames.

Yorman Landa (2-1) picked up the win for Cedar Rapids as John Curtiss stranded Henry Castillo at seconds base in the ninth for his second save of the year.