Cougars shut out Kernels for first home win

The entire team pitched in for a Kane County Cougars (2-2) victory over the Cedar Rapids Kernels (4-1) on Monday, by a score of 9-0. It was the first home win for the Cougars of the 2016 campaign and put an end to Cedar Rapids' undefeated start to the year.

The offense set the tone in the bottom of the third inning as Robelys Reyes singled home Matt McPhearson for a 1-0 lead.

Two innings later the Cougars plated a couple more runs, thanks to Zach Nehrir. After Josh Anderson connected on a 1-out double, Reyes was hit by a pitch in the wrist and left the game. Nehrir then cashed in both runners with a 2-out double for a 3-0 Cougars lead.

Despite all of the offense, Justin Donatella (1-0) didn't need much help. The Cougar starter worked 6 innings of scoreless baseball, allowing just 2 hits and striking out 4. The right-hander earned the first quality start for the Cougars' pitching staff in 2016.

After the Cougars' lineup knocked out starter Dereck Rodriguez (1-0) in the sixth inning, they feasted on the Kernels' relief, scoring three runs in the seventh and one in the eighth. Josh Anderson, Trevor Mitsui and Joe Munoz all were credited with RBI hits.

Relief pitching took over for Donatella with three scoreless frames as Jared Miller only allowed 1 walk with 2 strikeouts in the seventh and eighth, while Cameron Gann hung a zero in the ninth inning.

The Cougars and Kernels continue the series on Tuesday afternoon.