Cougars fall to LumberKings in 12 innings
In their longest game of the season, the Kane County Cougars (0-2) dropped a 12-inning ballgame by a score of 2-1 at the hands of the Clinton LumberKings (2-0). Ricky Eusebio had the walk-off hit for the LumberKings against the Cougars' right-hander Drew Muren (0-3). The Cougars are now 0-3 in extra inning games this season.
Five different pitchers were used for the Cougars notching 10 strikeouts. But starter Sam McWilliams left the ballgame after 2⅔ scoreless innings after taking a line drive to the upper body.
Shooting out to any early advantage, the Cougars power lefty slugger, Grant Heyman, cranked his sixth home run of the season against Clinton's starter Zack Littell (5-5) in the second inning. Heyman leads the Cougars in home runs even with a long stint in the California League.
Meanwhile, McWilliams (0-0) was tossing a gem for the Cougars until he was removed from the game in the fourth inning. McWilliams could not avoid a liner up the box from Dalton Kelly as McWilliams exited in precautionary fashion for right-handed reliever Cody Clark (3-0).
In Clark's first pitch, Mariners' top prospect, Alex Jackson, homered for the second time this season against the Cougars tying up the game, 1-1. Clark settled down though striking out four LumberKings in 2.1 innings pitched with one run on his final line.
Making his third start against the Cougars, right-hander Littell (5-5) gave up eight scattered hits working six and two-thirds innings. Littell also struck out eight swingers, leaving for Ronald Dominguez (0-1) who punched out Zach Nehrir with two men on base in the seventh inning.
With the bullpens full-bore the Cougars almost plated the go-ahead run in the ninth frame. With Raymel Flores in scoring position and Quinnton Mack at the plate, Mack singled to center field but Luis Liberato's toss home beat Flores and the Cougars were denied their chance to plate the go-ahead tally.
No team scored a run from the fourth inning until the Clinton half of the 12th inning. With two on and two outs, Ricky Eusebio roped a base hit against Muren sending the LumberKings to the victory. The Cougars will now try for a series split with two games remaining in the series.
Muren suffered the loss for the Cougars and has been the pitcher in both of the Cougars' walk-off losses. Clinton's winner was reliever Kyle Wilcox (2-4).