Cougars' rally falls short in Peoria
PEORIA - The Kane County Cougars lost to the Peoria Chiefs, 6-4, Thursday at O'Brien Field as the Chiefs swept the three-game series, sending the Cougars to their fourth straight loss.
Cougars starting pitcher Justin Marks suffered the defeat, as the Cougars rallied for three in the ninth before falling with the tying run at the plate.
Marks (0-2) had mixed results in the loss. He worked two perfect innings -- the first and third -- but also had two long innings. He gave up three runs in the second and faced six hitters and then yielded two runs in the fourth and saw seven hitters. A.J. Huttenlocker gave up one run in two innings, and Ryan Quigley tossed a pair of scoreless frames to complete the mound work.
The Cougars, who lead the Midwest League in runners left on base, stranded seven. Down, 6-0, after six innings, they managed an unearned run in the seventh. Then in the ninth they loaded the bases and got a groundout by Nino Leyja and a two-run single from Conner Crumbliss to cut it to 6-4. Peoria brought in James Leverton, who struck out Tyreace House to end it and record his second save.
The Cougars (6-9) continue their six-game road trip Friday night in Clinton, Iowa, with the opener of a three-game series against the LumberKings.