Solid pitching leads Cougars to 1-0 win over Snappers

Behind a shutdown pitching display from right-hander Max Duval (2-6), the Kane County Cougars (26-37, 59-74) topped the Beloit Snappers (25-38, 57-75) 1-0 Saturday. The lone RBI knock was provided by Stephen Dezzi off the bench in the seventh. The Cougars advance to 10-6 on the season against Beloit, the only team in the league they have double-digit wins against.

It was the third shutout of the season for the Cougars against the Snappers. The Cougars have now recorded 18 total shutouts against 10 different Midwest League opponents. It was also the first win at home for the Cougars in five games.

A scoreless ballgame early, the game's excitement grew in the sixth. Beloit's Trace Loehr reached on an error, setting up the wild play that happened two batters later. With Trent Gilbert at bat, his double sent Loehr home. But on an 8-4-2 relay, Luis Basabe gunned out Loehr at the plate, with an strong tag from Cougars catcher B.J. Lopez.

With newfound momentum, the Cougars found a remedy for Beloit starter, righty Dustin Hurlbutt (3-5) in the seventh. The inning began with a leadoff double for Ramon Hernandez, one of his three hits on the afternoon.

In scoring position, Hernandez easily scored on an RBI-base hit from Stephen Dezzi, who entered the game defensively in the top of the frame.

Leading 1-0, the Cougars were able to protect the lead. In the ninth, lefty Hector Hernandez (1-1) finished off the Snappers 1-2-3. Duval picked up just his second win on the season in 8 shutout innings without a walk and 6 strikeouts. Hurlbutt tossed 8 innings but suffered the loss for Beloit. Hernandez (2) notched the save.