Slam propels Cougars to season-opening win

DAVENPORT, Iowa — A grand slam from Lane Adams sparked the Kane County Cougars to a nine-run second inning, and they held on for an eventual 11-10 win Thursday night over the Quad Cities River Bandits at Modern Woodmen Park.

Adams started the Kane County (1-0) rally in the top of the second with a triple. He scored on a throwing error by starting pitcher Tyrell Jenkins (0-1), which gave the Cougars a 1-0 lead. Orlando Calixte then came on a three-base hit off the bat from Justin Trapp. Later in the inning, Michael Antonio blasted a two-run double. Adams later cracked a grand slam to cap the nine-run frame.

Quad Cities (0-1) picked up a half-dozen in the bottom of the second to chase starter Aaron Brooks from the contest. Colin Walsh smashed a two-run homer to put the River Bandits on the board. Luis Mateo doubled home a run while Matt Williams and Roberto De La Cruz each picked up a ribbie. Andrew Stueve (1-0) replaced Brooks and didn’t allow a run in 2.1 innings.

Jin-Ho Shin doubled to start the third and scored on an error by De La Cruz to put the Cougars up by four. Murray Watts finished the scoring for the Cougars with a run-scoring single in the fifth. Quad Cities picked up four off Jason Mitchell in the bottom of the sixth to close the gap to 11-10, but Matt Ridings and Nick Graffeo held the River Bandits the rest of the way to secure the win.

Game two of the three-game set between the Cougars and River Bandits is 7 p.m. Friday from Modern Woodmen Park. Righty Edwin Carl starts for the Cougars against southpaw Hector Hernandez. The game is broadcast on WBIG 1280-AM and www.kccougars.com.

The Cougars battle the Beloit Snappers at 1 p.m. Monday in their home opener from Fifth Third Bank Ballpark. Tickets are available at (630) 232-8811 or at www.kccougars.com.