Cougars shut out at home
To start their longest homestand of the season, the Kane County Cougars (20-26, 53-63) were shutout, 2-0, at the hands of the visiting Cedar Rapids Kernels (26-20, 62-53). It was the second straight loss for the Cougars, who played their first of eight straight in Geneva. Mike Benjamin's team is now 7-10 overall in 2016 against the Kernels.
A game characterized by stellar pitching and a few definitive plays, the Cougars found themselves at a loss for offense. Although both teams consistently put runners on base, runs were much harder to come by. With one of the league's top starting pitchers, right-hander Carlos Hernandez (6-9) on the mound, the Cougars defense did not help their starter early.
In the second inning, the Kernels' Travis Blankenhorn and Kevin Garcia recorded base hits. Primed to escape the jam, a slicing fly ball to left field was misplayed by Gerard Hernandez scoring two runs. Both tallies were unearned as the Kernels scored both of the game's run on one play.
Despite the second, Hernandez went on to complete a strong outing. In five total innings, Hernandez surrendered only two runs on eight hits, five strikeouts, and just one walk. Over the past two starts, Hernandez's has only walked only one opposing batter.
The Cougars greatest chance to score against Cedar Rapids' starter, Eddie Del Rosario (4-3), came in the second stanza. With two outs, Fernery Ozuna stroked a triple down the right side. Sergio Alcantara then drew a walk to put the tying run on the bases. But Raymel Flores struck out to end the threat.
In six of the nine innings, the Cougars recorded at least one base hit, sending runners to scoring position in half of those innings. But the Kernels combination of Del Rosario, Williams Ramirez (2-1), and Anthony McIver (0-2) proved too potent. Those hurlers combined for 13 strikeouts on just two walks. The loss pushes the Cougars losing skid to the Kernels at five games, without a win against Jake Mauer's ball team since July 10th.
Hernandez suffered the loss, Del Rosario picked up the victory, and McIver (7) logged the save.