Cougars rally to edge Peoria 7-6

The Kane County Cougars, after letting a 4-0 lead slip away, bounced back to reclaim the advantage and hang on to defeat the Peoria Chiefs 7-6 on Sunday at Fifth Third Bank Ballpark.

Trey Martin’s bunt single sparked the Cougars (7-8) in the bottom of the third before Oliver Zapata tripled Martin home to put the Cougars on top. Zapata scored on a Pin-Chieh Chen double to give the Cougars a 2-run cushion.

In the fourth, Chadd Krist’s run-scoring single scored Rock Shoulders. Jeimer Candelario’s double scored Dan Vogelbach an inning later.

Felix Pena was cruising up to that point, allowing 1 hit in the first 5 innings. In the sixth inning, Pena gave up 5 runs, including a grand slam to Patrick Wisdom.

Ian Dickson (1-1) replaced Pena with two outs in the sixth and allowed another run before shutting down the Chiefs (7-8).

The Cougars weren’t behind for long as Martin doubled in Krist with one out in the sixth before Chen’s RBI single tied it at 6-6. Chen scored on a Marco Hernandez single to put the Cougars back on top.

Peoria put two on in the ninth, but a line-drive double play off the bat of Breyvic Valera ended the game.

The Cougars and Chiefs play the second of their three-game set Monday at noon. Left-hander Michael Heesch (0-1) starts for the Cougars against fellow southpaw Kyle Helisek (1-1).