Cougars lose 15-inning marathon

In a 4-hour, 37-minute marathon in front of 7,026 at Elfstrom Stadium, the Kane County Cougars suffered a 5-3, 15-inning loss Saturday night against the Clinton LumberKings. The Cougars rallied to tie the game in the bottom of the ninth on a two-run single by Max Stassi, but Clinton took control in the 15th and handed the Cougars their 12th loss in 14 games.

Both starting pitchers turned in solid efforts. The Cougars' Anvioris Ramirez gave up one run -- in the fifth -- on six hits, walked one and fanned two over six innings in a no-decision. The Cougars tied the game, 1-1, in the sixth on a Kent Walton homer off Erasmo Ramirez. After the LumberKings scored in the seventh against Josh Lansford and in the eighth against A.J. Huttenlocker, Stassi plated Walton and Myrio Richard in the ninth to draw the Cougars even, 3-3.

The 3-3 deadlock remained until the 15th inning when the LumberKings scored two runs -- one earned -- against Connor Hoehn (4-3). Position player Juan Nunez finished the Cougars' pitching duties by recording the final out in the frame. Daniel Cooper (2-1) picked up the victory, and Jose Jimenez recorded his first save.

The Cougars (21-29) and LumberKings (29-21) continue the four-game series Sunday night at 6 CT. Rob Gilliam (3-3, 3.34) will face spot-starter John Housey (3-0, 2.25). The game will be broadcast on WBIG 1280-AM and online at www.kccougars.com with pregame coverage starting at 5:45 p.m.