Cougars win first game of Iowa road trip
CEDAR RAPIDS, IA. - Securing an early advantage on a 5-run second inning, the victorious Kane County Cougars (19-20, 58-48) took the first game of their Iowa road trip against the Cedar Rapids Kernels (18-21, 57-52). The matchup between the two first-half Western Division playoff teams concluded in a 9-1 final. The Cougars also received a lights out start from winning righty Sam McWilliams (10-5) who becomes the first Cougar with double-digit wins this season.
In the triumphant second inning, the Cougars tagged losing southpaw Evan Sanders (1-4) for 5 runs on 3 hits. Trailing by a run, the Cougars loaded the bases for Cole Thompson who swatted a 2-RBI double. Now armed with their first lead, the Cougars built on it with an RBI single from Anfernee Grier. Marcus Wilson then contributed a sac-fly for another run, as Ramon Hernandez produced the fifth tally on a single RBI.
After allowing a first inning run, McWilliams settled down for one of his best starts. On five total innings, McWilliams landed 5 strikeouts with just 1 walk issued. He also just surrendered 5 hits, more than half of which were in the first inning.
In more offensive output, the Cougars put up a three-spot in the eighth inning. With two on, Luis Silverio hit his team-leading sixth triple of the season to score a pair. And it didn't take long for Silverio to score as Grier bashed a hit for another tally.
To cap it off in the ninth, newcomer Yan Sanchez belted a solo home run. It was Sanchez's first home run in the Midwest League.
The Cougars now have scored 4 or more runs in five of their last six games.