Cougars struggle in loss to Kernels

Pushing their losing skid to three games, the Kane County Cougars (20-27, 53-64) have started the home stand winless, falling in convincing fashion to the Cedar Rapids Kernels (27-20, 63-53) by a 10-1 tally.

Totaling a season-high eight-game win streak to start the month of August, the Cougars have only managed one run against the Kernels. Cedar Rapids' righty starter, Miles Nordgren (4-6), worked a brilliant seven innings against the Cougars. He only allowed 5 hits and just 1 run.

An error riddled start put the Cougars in a 4-0 hole after the second frame. As the Kernels batted around against starter Sam McWilliams (2-4), the Kernels took advantage of 3 errors by the Cougars, all coming from Fernery Ozuna and Sergio Alcantara, the third baseman and short stop. The Kernels scored on a wild pitch, stolen base, error at third, and RBI-base hit from Sean Miller, batting around the order.

Adding another run in the fourth inning on an RBI-hit from Zander Wiel, the Cougars got on the board in the bottom of the frame. As newcomer Marcus Wilson reached base on an error, Trevor Mitsui singled, and Frank Christy drew a walk to load the bases. Nordgren proceeded to hit the front arm of Joey Armstrong, sending in the run.

Although the Cougars still had the bases loaded and no outs thereafter, they failed to plate another run in the inning. Ozuna hit into a double play and new roster insertion, Ramon Hernandez, struck out to end the rally. Despite a rain delay, Nordgren stayed in the ballgame and stopped the Cougar offense throughout his start.

The Cougars also had to go to their bullpen early. McWilliams lasted just 2 innings in his start. Thereafter, the Cougars used a combination of four relievers, Austin Mason (4-0), Cody Clark (4-1), Mason McCullough (0-1), and Kirby Bellow (1-0) made appearances as the Kernels pounded out 16 total hits, only failing once in an inning to put a runner on base.

In total, the Kernels scored in four different innings, adding a single run in the fifth and four runs in the ninth. Casey Scoggins and Luis Arraez were both credited with RBI. And with his first home run of 2016, Kevin Garcia blasted a 3-run home run past left field. Each Cougar reliever gave up at least one run. Although both runs were unearned, Bellow allowed his first runs of any kind since June 10th, 15 outings removed from this outing.