Cougars salvage series finale against Beloit
Angel Baez and two relievers limited the Beloit Snappers’ offense as the Kane County Cougars pulled off a 3-1 victory Wednesday afternoon at Fifth Third Bank Ballpark in Geneva.
Baez (2-2) cruised through 5 innings as he held the Snappers (43-33, 4-2) to just 3 hits without a run. Baez worked around 4 walks while striking out 4. Rudy Brown replaced Baez and worked 1 innings, giving up a run in the eighth before Jonathan Dooley (S, 3) recorded the final 5 outs.
Baez was given the lead in the bottom of the fifth as the Cougars (37-39, 3-3) picked up a pair against David Hurlbut (3-1). Kenny Swab started the rally with a one-out single and advanced to second when Tim Ferguson reached on an error by third baseman Adam Bryant. Yowill Espinal walked to fill the bases while Justin Trapp bounced into a fielder’s choice to score Swab with the game’s first run.
Alex Llanos followed with a run-scoring double to bring home Ferguson. Kane County remained in front, 2-0, until the eighth when Beloit loaded the bases with three singles. Bryant’s sac fly scored A.J. Pettersen, but the other two runners were stranded when pinch-hitter Matt Koch grounded to deep short. Julio Aparicio singled home Danny Mateo in the bottom of the eighth after Mateo tripled to provide the Cougars with an insurance tally.
The Cougars are at Fifth Third Bank Ballpark on Thursday when they battle the Burlington Bees at 6:30 p.m.