Cougars win in 9th inning

After stranding a runner in scoring position in each of the first eight innings Monday night, the Kane County Cougars finally broke through in the ninth, scored twice and hung on to beat the West Michigan Whitecaps, 2-1, in front of 2,438 at Fifth Third Ballpark.

Trailing 1-0 in the top of the ninth, the Cougars forced Noah Krol (0-1) into his first blown save. Gustavo Rosendo and Christian Vitters walked, and Walter Correa's sacrifice bunt was thrown away at first, allowing pinch-runner Michael Lissman to scamper home with the tying run. Then Adam Klein bounced back to the mound, and Vitters was cut down at the plate while Correa took third and Klein went to second. That set up Shane Keough, who missed a bunt on a squeeze play that led to Correa's out but delivered a two-out single to center to score Klein.

Justin Friend issued a pair of walks in the bottom half but converted his second save, giving Scott Deal (2-0) the victory after his two-inning effort. Starter Travis Banwart delivered his third consecutive quality start and for a while appeared in line for a third straight tough-luck loss. The right-hander gave up just one run -- it came in the third -- on six hits, walked four and fanned four.