Lack of offense dooms Cougars in loss to Bees

BURLINGTON, Iowa - For just the third time this season, and first time in Western Division play, the Kane County Cougars (25-20) were shut out, 2-0, by the Burlington Bees (17-25) at Community Field. With the loss, the Cougars dropped the series, and finished the brief road trip with a 1-3 record. The Cougars will look to get back on the saddle starting a seven-game home stand with the first place Cedar Rapids Kernels on Friday night.

After the Cougars shut out the Bees on Wednesday night, Burlington got on the board quickly Thursday. In the home half of the second, the Bees eked out a run against Cougars right-handed starter Emilio Vargas (1-2). After Varags issued a free pass to John Schuknecht, Sam McDonnell's double to left drove in the lone tally of the first half of this game.

That was the lone run scored against either starter, as both of these right-handers put on a pitching clinic. For the Cougars, the losing hurler, Vargas, lasted four innings on 1 run with 7 strikeouts and 3 walks. For Burlington, their winner, Travis Herrin (2-3), went for five innings on just 4 hits, no runs, with 6 strikeouts and 1 hit batter.

The game would come down to a battle of the bullpens. After a great throw to catch a runner at second in the seventh inning, the Bees struck for another run, this time against right-hander Jake Winston (1-1). With one out and the bases clear, Jeyson Sanchez left the yard over the wall in left field for his second round-tripper of the season. Burlington went up 2-0 for good at that point.

In the ninth, the Cougars went down in order as right-hander Blake Smith (2) recorded the save. The Cougars next start a pivotal seven-game home stand with the Cedar Rapids Kernels on Friday at 6:30 p.m.

The Cougars trail the Kernels by a game in the Western Division first half standings.