Kane County Cougars end losing streak with triumph over Winnipeg

Thanks to a solid nine innings on the mound, the Kane County Cougars (17-14) ended their four-game losing skid with a 5-2 win over the Winnipeg Goldeyes (16-15) Wednesday afternoon at Northwestern Medicine Field.

Making his first official appearance since 2021, former big-leaguer Greg Mahle (1-0) earned the win in his Cougars debut with five scoreless innings. Mahle retired the first nine batters and faced just one over the minimum. Jordan Martinsen and CJ Carter helped continue the success on the mound, allowing two runs, but both being unearned. Ryan Nutof recorded the final four outs for his ninth save of the season, tied for the league lead.

The Cougars never trailed in the game, taking their first lead on Jared Cushing’s first home run in the third inning. It was Cushing’s first home game and his third professional game. Two innings later, Harrison Smith also went deep, hitting a home run on his 28th birthday.

Cushing picked up another RBI in the sixth, before Cornelius Randolph made it 5-2 Cougars with an RBI hit in the seventh.

Winnipeg’s only offense came in the seventh as they scored two unearned runs. Colton Eastman (2-5) suffered the loss.