Cougars get swept by River Bandits
DAVENPORT, Iowa — A rough start for the Kane County Cougars turned into another loss as the Quad Cities River Bandits swept the four-game series with a 6-1 victory a Modern Woodmen Park on Sunday.
In the bottom of the first, Teoscar Hernandez led off and reached on Jeimer Candelario’s throwing error. Carlos Correa bunted for a hit when the Cougars failed to cover first. Jesse Wierzbicki singled to load the bases, and Rio Ruiz drove home 2 runs with a single. Three batters later, Ruben Sosa capped the 4-run burst with a single that drove in a pair of runs.
Cougars starter Felix Pena (2-2) lasted just 32⁄3 innings. He was pulled with two outs in the fourth after Hernandez cracked a solo homer and the River Bandits (42-31, 4-0) led 5-0.
Dillon Maples replaced Pena and allowed a run in the sixth when Hernandez singled to score Sosa.
Lance McCullers (4-4) started for the River Bandits and dominated the Cougars (30-40, 0-4) through 5 innings. McCullers fanned seven, walked two and and allowed only a single to Reggie Golden.
River Bandits reliever Daniel Minor worked a pair of perfect innings. Mitchell Lambson gave up the Cougars run in the eighth on Carlos Escobar’s solo homer. Lambson worked a scoreless ninth.
The Cougars return to Fifth Third Bank Ballpark on Tuesday to host the Beloit Snappers at 6:30 p.m.. Cougars left-hander Brian Smith (2-2) will oppose right-hander Seth Streich (7-4).