Kane County Cougars shut out by Cedar Rapids

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - Shut out for the eighth time this season, the Kane County Cougars (7-12, 40-49) had their three-game winning streak snapped 2-0 by the Cedar Rapids Kernels (9-10, 45-43) on Monday at Perfect Game Field.

It was the Cougars debut for right-hander Jose Almonte (0-1), who despite a quality start suffered the loss as the Cougars managed 7 hits.

The Cougars finished the series with 3 wins and a loss, their first road series win since late April. The Cougars went 3-5 on the road trip, swept in four games by Peoria on the front half.

Almonte worked 6 innings, allowing 2 runs. He walked five.

In the third inning, Jermaine Palacios hit a triple and scored on a sacrifice fly from Luis Arraez. In the fourth, Nelson Molina singled and scored from first on a Casey Scoggins double that bounced in front of a diving left fielder Matt Railey.

Adding insurance against right-hander Julio Perez (0-0), the Kernels hit a 2-run homer to go up 4-0. Zander Wiel tied the team lead with his sixth homer of the season, also scoring Luis Arraez.

Pitching 5 shutout innings on just 4 hits, Eduardo Del Rosario (1-2) picked up the win for the Kernels.

The Cougars open a six-game homestand Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. against West Michigan. Emilio Vargas (0-3, 4.22 ERA) will start against the Whitecaps' Spenser Watkins (1-0, 3.74 ERA).