Cougars top first-place LumberKings

In one of the fastest and well-played pitcher's duels of this season, the Kane County Cougars (12- 23, 45-60) came out with a 1-0 victory atop the visiting first place Clinton LumberKings (24-11, 64-42). Although Clinton out hit the Cougars seven to three, the Cougars used a fourth inning RBI-double from Trevor Mitsui to support starter Emilio Vargas (2-5) in his quality outing.

Vargas recorded his second straight quality outing at home. He tossed 6 shutout innings allowing 7 hits, at least one in each inning he pitched, but seamlessly found his way around a host of jams. Vargas gave way to left-hander, Kirby Bellow (1-0) who struck out the first seven batters he faced and closed out the ninth for his second save of 2016.

With the Cougars donning their lime green uniforms, offense was sparse the entire night against the LumberKings' Pedro Vasquez (1-2) who tossed a complete game in 8 innings on just 3 hits and 6 strikeouts.

Vasquez's lone blemish was the fourth inning when he allowed the game's only run. With one out, the rally started with a Zach Nehrir base hit to break up a no-hitter. The next batter, Mitsui, ripped an RBI double down the left field line as Nehrir blasted his ways around the bases from first. It was Mitsui's team-leading 57th RBI of the season.

The Cougars only had one other hit in the game, but Vargas wound his way out of jams in the second and third innings to preserve a shutout. With the win, the Cougars snap a 3-game losing skid and win their first game of the home stand.

Vargas grabs his second win in his last three starts, Vasquez suffers the tough-luck loss, and Bellow (2) the save.