Cougars split with Chiefs

In the opener of a day-night doubleheader at Fifth Third Bank Ballpark in Geneva, Gioskar Amaya drove home 3 runs with a bases-loaded double in the sixth inning, and the Kane County Cougars went on to blank the Peoria Chiefs 5-0 on Thursday afternoon.

The Chiefs came back hand the Cougars (19-19) an 8-2 defeat in the second game

In the opener, three Cougars pitchers combined to allow 1 hit in the seven-inning game against the Chiefs (18-19).

Brian Smith, in his first start of the season, did not allow a hit in 4 innings and walked 2.

Eddie Orozco (2-2) surrendered a hit to Jordan Walton to lead off the fifth that broke up the no-hit bid.

But Orozco induced a double-play grounder following the hit as part of his 2 shutout innings in which he faced the minimum six hitters.

Jeff Antigua worked a perfect seventh to complete the Cougars’ second straight shutout of the Chiefs.

Pin-Chieh Chen gave the Cougars the lead in the second when he drove home Marco Hernandez with a two-out RBI single.

The Cougars added to their lead in the sixth.

With runners at second and third, Chen was intentionally walked to load the bases with one out before Amaya delivered his double.

Dan Vogelbach added an RBI double.