Cougars stunned by Chiefs comeback

The Kane County Cougars (4-8, 37-45) coughed up two leads to the Peoria Chiefs (5-7, 45-37) Monday evening and wound up on the wrong end of a 7-6 score in front of a packed Peoria crowd on Independence Day at Dozer Park.

With the Cougars leading 6-3 into the eighth inning, right handed reliever Mason McCullough took the mound for his second frame of work. Peoria instantly threatened as Magneuris Sierra led off with a double. Leo Pina followed with a single to left field and Sierra came home on an error by Cougar outfielder Matt Railey. After McCullough gave up another base hit, Drew Muren (0-5) took over on the mound inheriting two runners in line for the save. Although Muren did not allow a hit, Peoria tied the game on Chris Chinea's groundout and took the lead on Jose Godoy's sacrifice fly. Peoria's new 7-6 charged Muren with the blown save.

The Cougars made an interesting ninth inning, but stranded the tying run at third base. In his first day rejoining the Cougars' roster, outfielder Colin Bray came up to the plate facing his older brother Tyler for the first time in their professional careers. Colin singled up the middle on the first pitch delivered from his sibling. Bray then stole second base and advanced to third on a wild pitch, but Tyler won long battles at the plate from Raymel Flores and Joe Munoz at the plate for his fourth save of the year.

Fernery Ozuna helped the Cougars offensively with a 2-run single in the third inning to put the Cougars ahead by 4-2. Two innings later Munoz cranked his fifth homer of the year to left center field and Ozuna singled home another run.

Carlos Hernandez worked 1⅓ of scoreless baseball his first day off the disabled list. Stephen Gallardo (1-1) earned the win as Peoria's relief staff only allowed one hit to the Cougars' offense.