Cougars drop marathon game 7-6

It took 13 innings to decide Thursday's game as the visiting Clinton LumberKings (3-5) came back in the ninth inning and rallied in extra innings to get even with the Kane County Cougars (3-5) in the standings with a 7-6 victory.

Every time Clinton found the scoreboard, the Cougars answered. The LumberKings started the scoring in the first inning, but Stryker Trahan's RBI fielder's choice in the home half tied the game at 1-1. A 2-run single by Daniel Torres put Clinton in front in the third, until the Cougars received RBI singles from Cody Regis and Steve McQuail for a 3-3 tie. Two innings later, the LumberKings used a Joe DeCarlo solo home run as part of a 2-run inning. A half-inning later the Cougars did one better as newcomer Victor Reyes tied the contest with a two-out, 2-run single, followed by Fernery Ozuna's go-ahead double.

After the fifth, the Cougars' bullpen kept the game in control until the ninth. DeCarlo connected on his second home run of the day, taking Luis Ramirez deep and sending the game into extras at 6-6.

The Cougars had chances in the ninth, 11th and 12th innings, but Clinton was the first to score on Estarlyn Morales' RBI double in the 13th. A short-lived Cougars' rally died in the bottom half with a 6-4-3 double play.

Rohn Pierce (1-1) picked up the win as Bud Jeter (1-1) suffered the loss. The Cougars used seven pitchers. Ramirez suffered a blown save.

The series between the Cougars and LumberKings wraps up Friday night from Fifth Third Bank Ballpark. Left-hander Pat Peterson (0-1, 1.93) will take the mound for Clinton against the Cougars' Brad Keller (0-0, 4.50). First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.