Cougars swept in Cedar Rapids

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - After an 8-1 loss Monday afternoon at Veterans Stadium, the Kane County Cougars suffered a four-game sweep at the hands of the Cedar Rapids Kernels. The Cougars were outscored 28-12 in the set and held a lead for just half an inning in Saturday's contest.

Starter Justin Marks (0-3) took the loss. He gave up six runs -- five earned -- on eight hits over six innings. He finished five innings for the first time this season and was two outs away from a quality start before he yielded a three-run homer in the sixth for a 6-0 Kernels advantage. Rashun Dixon accounted for the Cougars' lone run of the day with a seventh-inning homer, and the Kernels countered with two in the eighth off Hector Garcia to make it 8-1.

Anthony Aliotti had two hits, and Max Stassi had three, but the Cougars bounced into two double plays. They were 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position Monday and 6-for-27 in those situations during the series as a whole. Tyler Skaggs (1-1) got the win for the Kernels (13-12), and Tyler Kehrer posted his first save.

The Cougars (11-14) continue their seven-game road trip Tuesday night at 6:30 p.m. with the opener of a three-game set against the Burlington Bees (10-15).