Cougars slam way to 9-2 victory

A two-run homer from Murray Watts and a Michael Antonio grand slam set the Kane County Cougars on track to a 9-2 victory over the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers Monday afternoon at Fifth Third Bank Ballpark in Geneva.

After falling behind 1-0 in the top of the second, the Cougars (20-18) roared back in the home half against Chad Thompson (1-1). Antonio cracked a double with one out and scored on the two-run blast by Watts, which was his seventh of the season.

In the third, Justin Trapp tripled and was still at third with two outs as Jorge Bonifacio and Lane Adams drew back-to-back walks. Antonio the cracked a grand slam to give the Cougars a five-run lead. Kane County added three more in the fourth as Danny Mateo doubled home Runey Davis. Jin-Ho Shin scored on a Bonifacio single while Adams drove in Mateo with a fielder’s choice grounder to make it 9-1.

Kellen Moen (2-1) tossed six innings for the Cougars as he limited the Timber Rattlers (23-15) to just four hits. Yadiel Rivera smacked a solo homer off Moen in the sixth while Moen fanned four and didn’t walk a batter. Mike Giovenco worked a pair of scoreless innings out of the Cougars’ bullpen and Matt Ridings put up a zero in the ninth.

The Cougars are at Fifth Third Bank Ballpark on Tuesday when they play the Timber Rattlers in the finale of a four-game series at 11 a.m.