Division clincher remains on hold for Cougars

The Kane County Cougars (45-21, 81-53) dropped the second game to the Quad Cities River Bandits (41-25, 86-48) 11-5 from Modern Woodmen Park Thursday evening. The loss along with a Peoria Chiefs' victory kept the division championship clinching celebration on hold as the magic number remains at one.

The Cougars' main highlight of the inning was Victor Reyes connecting on his first professional home run in the top of the ninth. With two runners on, Reyes battled in a 2-2 count until lifted a pitch over the right field wall. It was his 306th game and his 1093rd at-bat that Reyes went deep for the first time.

The Cougars coughed up a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the fourth inning as a throwing error allowed Drew Ferguson to score and tie the game. The River Bandits poured on seven runs in the bottom of the fifth knocking starter Ethan Elias (11-6) out of the game. Jose Martinez came on in relief, but still allowed Quad Cities to bring up 11 batters to the plate in their crooked inning.

Reyes actually provided the first run for the Cougars as he singled home Dawel Lugo in the second to tie the game at one.

The Cougars and River Bandits conclude the season series on Friday. Left-hander Josh Taylor (3-3, 3.54) will take the mound for the Cougars against Quad Cities' Brock Dykshoorn (8-4, 3.72). First pitch from Modern Woodmen Park is scheduled for 7 p.m.