Milkmen edge Kane County Cougars in rain-shortened series opener

The Kane County Cougars (23-19) dropped the opener of their weekend series against the Milwaukee Milkmen (27-17), falling 4-3 in a rain-shortened game Friday night at Northwestern Medicine Field in Geneva.

After a weather delay halted play following the top of the eighth inning, the contest was called official with the score reverting to the end of the seventh inning.

Reese Sharp (3-4) worked around a leadoff double in the first inning and escaped several early jams before Milwaukee broke through in the third. Consecutive singles by Yordys Valdes and Charlie Marion set the table before Andy Blake lined a two-out RBI single into right, giving the Milkmen a 1-0 lead.

The Cougars answered immediately in the bottom half of the inning. Josh Allen singled and stole second before Matt Bottcher drew the first of his three walks. Claudio Finol tied the game with an RBI single through the right side, and Alex McGarry followed with a sacrifice fly to center to put Kane County in front 2-1.