Cougars drop pitchers' duel at home

In a pitchers' duel in Geneva, the Kane County Cougars (50-38, 11-10) suffered a 2-1 loss at the hands of the visiting Bowling Green Hot Rods (44-44, 13-8). The game's go-ahead run came in the sixth inning against rehabbing big leaguer J.J. Hoover (0-1) who suffered the loss in his opening Midwest League appearance.

The Cougars only tallied only seven hits on the night, scoring their lone run in the third on an RBI triple from Raymel Flores.

In the visitor's half of the second, the Hot Rods took their first lead of the series. On an error at second base, Jonah Heim reached as the leadoff man. Robbie Tenerowicz added a base hit, and on Mike Brosseau's single, Heim scored helped by an error in right field.

It didn't take long for the Cougars to tie the game in the third frame. B.J. Lopez added a one out single and scored on a triple from Flores in the right field corner. It was Flores' first triple of the season.

Despite keeping the Hot Rods at bay, right-handed starter Curtis Taylor (3-4) was removed from the game in the fifth inning. Taylor allowed a walk to Mike Mastrobuoni and a double to Lucius Fox, as righty Cody Clark came in the game. Clark kept the game locked at one a piece as he struck out back-to-back batters to keep two in scoring position.

But in the sixth, Bowling Green took their second lead, this time against Hoover. The Diamondbacks' reliever surrendered base hits to Heim and Tenerowicz, as Bobby Melley provided the go-ahead RBI sac-fly.

The winning pitcher was righty Juan Yepez (1-0) who only allowed a single run in five innings. And right-hander Orlando Romero (5) was credited with the save, stranding Mark Karaviotis, the tying run, at first base.