Cougars hang on in 9th

MIDLAND, Mich. -- Michael Richard had 3 hits and scored 3 runs Monday night to help the Kane County Cougars to a 6-4 victory over the Great Lakes Loons at Dow Diamond.

Craig Italiano worked 5 innings for the victory, and Justin Friend saved his first game of the year, as the Cougars, who never trailed, fought off a Loons rally in the bottom of the ninth.

Richard, making his first start since April 9 because of a tender right thumb, singled to lead off the game and later scored on a wild pitch to make it 1-0.

After the Loons got their only earned run of the night off Italiano in the bottom half of the inning, Richard singled to start the third and came home on Corey Brown's sacrifice fly. The Loons tied it again at 2-2 in the fourth with an unearned run against Italiano (2-0).

Greg Dowling and Michael Lissman hit back-to-back run-scoring singles in the seventh off Geison Aguasviva to make it 5-2, and after the Loons got one back in the bottom portion off Scott Moore, a balk brought in Christian Vitters in the eighth to make it 6-3.

Branden Dewing started the ninth but left after the leadoff man reached on an error, and Friend took over. After a walk and an out, the Loons scored the unearned run on a fielder's choice to cut it to 6-4. Friend recorded a strikeout, issued a walk to load the bases and struck out Jamie Ortiz to end the game.