Kane County Cougars lose third straight game

BURLINGTON, Iowa - Five lead changes in Wednesday's contest didn't finish in the Kane County Cougars' (24-35, 57-72) favor as they dropped their third consecutive game to the Burlington Bees (32-27, 64-65) with a 5-4 loss.

Ramon Hernandez helped the Cougars to their first lead of the series with an RBI double in the second inning to score Joey Armstrong. Hernandez came through in the clutch twice more in the contest. In the fourth, the Cougars infielder doubled the advantage with an RBI groundout to plate Fernery Ozuna.

The Cougars' 2-run lead didn't last long as Burlington scored their first run off Cougar starter Jose Almonte in the fourth inning on a Jordan Serena RBI groundout. An inning later the Bees took the lead after loading the bases with nobody out. Michael Barash's double play ball tied the game, before Jahmai Jones singled home Jared Walsh to put Burlington in front 3-2.

With two outs in the top of the seventh, Marcus Wilson took Almonte off the hook with an RBI single off Connor Lillis-White (1-0) to score BJ Lopez and tie the game at 3.

Burlington answered with a pair of two-out runs of their own. After Hector Hernandez (1-1) walked Jared Walsh with one out, Barash singled with two away, which set the table for Jones who ripped a 2-run double off the left field wall for a 5-4 Burlington lead.

The Cougars got within a run when Ramon Hernandez tripled home Ozuna with two outs in the eighth, but Aaron Cox struck out the side in the ninth to secure the Burlington victory.

With Wednesday's loss, the Cougars' elimination number dropped to three.

The Cougars hope to salvage a win and avoid the sweep in the series finale on Thursday. Emilio Vargas (4-6, 3.56) takes the mound for the Cougars against Burlington's Jaime Barria (8-6, 3.81). First pitch from Community Field is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.