Bats silenced as Cougars suffer first loss of season

Suffering their first loss of 2017, the Kane County Cougars (5-1) evened the home series with the Cedar Rapids Kernels (3-3) falling by a 6-1 tally at Northwestern Medicine Field on Tuesday afternoon.

Facing by far their largest deficit of the season, the Cougars trailed the Kernels 5-0 at the end of three innings. Making his first start of the season, right-hander Bo Takahashi (0-1), did not receive any help from his defense that committed 2 errors in a 3-run first inning.

On a ground ball to third, an error allowed the first run of the game to score, followed by RBI base hits for Cedar Rapids' Shane Carrier and Brandon Lopez.

The onslaught continued as Travis Blankenhorn's double plated another run in the second, followed up by a run driven in from Lopez again in the third. The Kernels had a total of six hits in the first three innings.

In search of answers against right-hander Tyler Beardsley (1-0), the Cougars finally scored in the home half of the fourth inning. First baseman Ramon Hernandez came up with a one-out line drive single scoring Anfernee Grier, the Cougars still trailed 5-1 after four frames.

After two scoreless innings for both teams, the Kernels tacked on one more run in the seventh, courtesy of Blankenhorn's third home run of the season, a solo shot off right-handed Cougars' reliever Sam Lewis (0-0).

That was all the necessary damage as right-hander Brady Anderson shut the door for a four-inning save, allowing no runs with 3 strikeouts. Suffering the loss, Takahashi went 5 innings allowing 5 runs (2 earned) with five strikeouts and a lone walk. The win, in his first start this season, went to Beardsley who lasted 5 innings on 3 hits and a run (1 earned).

The Cougars play the series finale Wednesday at 11 a.m. On the mound for the Cougars Jon Duplantier (0-0, 0.00 ERA) makes his second start of the season against the Kernels' Eduardo Del Rosario (1-0, 0.00 ERA). For tickets call 630-232-8811 or visit kccougars.com.