LumberKings deny Cougars in home opener

Missed opportunities were a rally-killer for the Kane County Cougars in their Midwest League season opener Thursday.

The Cougars dropped a 2-1 decision to the Clinton LumberKings, but it wasn't for a lack of effort. They stranded runners at third base twice, and weren't able to solve a stout Clinton relief corps in the late innings.

Too bad, too, considering opening night at Fifth Third Bank Ballpark introduced a new logo, new uniforms and even a more menacing (though still family friendly) mascot. But Cougars manager Mike Benjamin preferred to take the long view.

"It's not really disappointing," Benjamin said. "If you break it down, we walked the leadoff hitter twice, and he scored both times, and that was pretty much the difference of the game. All in all, it was a good effort."

Kane County got its only tally in the first on a groundout by Luke Lowery that scored Robelys Reyes, and it looked like that was the start of good things to come.

Only it wasn't. Lightning-quick Matt McPhearson was stranded at third in the second when Galli Cribbs struck out looking, and it was McPhearson again standing on third in the fourth when Cribbs popped out to short.

Sitting there watching was perhaps the toughest part for McPhearson.

"It was pretty frustrating they weren't able to get me in, but it's part of the game," he said. "I tried to get the pitcher to throw the ball in the dirt, trying to be a little aggressive down the third base line, but if not, just wait for that hard ground ball or fly out and tag up and get that run in."

"We just lacked that one big hit with two outs," Benjamin lamented.

But perhaps the most bitter pill to swallow was Reyes getting stranded 90 feet away in the eighth, as Luke Lowery struck out looking on a 3-2 pitch, just as he started heading to first base.

The Cougars could muster only 2 hits against the LumberKings relief corps: Lowry's double to lead off the sixth - where he was promptly picked off by Clinton catcher Arturo Nieto - and Reyes' single to lead off the eighth. In all, the Cougars stranded 6 runners, nearly matching their 8 hits.

Clinton pressed its advantage in the top of the sixth against Joel Payamps, who took the loss in relieving starter Taylor Clarke.

Thanks to a pair of walks and a hit batsman, the LumberKings loaded the bases against Payamps, who then walked Rafael Fernandez to drive in Dalton Kelly and give Clinton a 2-1 lead.

Payamps exited, and new hurler Jared Miller induced Ricky Eusebio to ground into a fielder's choice that erased Nieto at third base.

But damage done. And there was nearly more to come in the seventh, as Miller loaded the bases with a pair of hits and a walk, but got out of it by striking out Logan Taylor and getting Rayder Ascanio to ground out.

A bright spot for the Cougars was reliever Cameran Gann, who gave up just 1 hit in the eighth and ninth innings.

Payamps gave up a run on 2 hits with a pair of strikeouts in 1⅔ innings pitched. Reyes walked and singled, while Lowery went 1-for-4 with an RBI.

"It's a marathon, not sprint," said Clarke, who scattered 3 hits and struck out 5 in 4 innings of work. "It's always nice to win the home opener in front of the fans. We've just got to look at the next game."