Smith, Cougars edge Clinton 4-3

CLINTON, Iowa — Kyle Smith fired a no-hitter through 6 innings in his debut as he helped boost the Kane County Cougars to a 4-3 victory over the Clinton LumberKings on Sunday afternoon at Ashford University Field.

Smith retired 17 of the 18 batters he faced. Nate Melendres, who walked in the bottom of the first, was the only batter to reach against Smith, who set down the last 16 hitters he faced with 6 strikeouts before being lifted for reliever Jason Mitchell (2-4).

Mitchell allowed the first hit of the game to the LumberKings (24-47, 1-2) when Ji-Man Choi singled with two outs in the seventh. After Ramon Morla reached on a fielder’s choice with Choi safe at second, Jabari Blash belted a 3-run homer to tie the score at 3-3.

It stayed even until the ninth when Julio Aparicio connected for an opposite-field solo homer off Robert Shore (0-1) to put the Cougars (36-37, 2-1) back on top to stay.

Mitchell worked the final 3 innings while surrendering 4 hits with 2 strikeouts. Aparicio drove in 3 runs, including a 2-run single in the sixth. The Cougars’ Dean Espy had snapped a scoreless tie in the top of the fourth with a sacrifice fly that drove home Jorge Bonifacio, who had doubled.