Scott, Escobar key Cougars past Bees

BURLINGTON, Iowa — Tayler Scott was sharp over 7 innings and received offensive support from his battery mate, Carlos Escobar, as the Kane County Cougars earned a 3-2 win over the Burlington Bees on Friday night at Community Field.

Scott (3-2) allowed 2 runs while scattering 8 hits. Burlington (23-32) got on the board first in the bottom of the third when Sherman Johnson walked with two outs, took second on Scott’s error and scored on Kyle Johnson’s hit.

In the fourth, the Cougars (27-31) tied the score when Jeimer Candelario ripped a long home run to right off Alex Keudell (4-2). An inning later, Bijan Rademacher led off with a double, advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt from Marco Hernandez and scored on Escobar’s single to shallow left.

Kyle Johnson tied the game in the bottom of the fifth with a single to bring home Wendell Soto, but the Cougars reclaimed the advantage in the seventh. Hernandez blooped a single to right-center with two outs and scored from first when Escobar tripled to the gap in right-center.

Stephen Perakslis (S, 1) relieved Scott and worked a scoreless eighth. In the bottom of the ninth, Perakslis gave up a hit to Sandy Martinez before walking the bases loaded. He fell behind Wade Hinkle, but Hinkle popped up a 2-0 fastball that Candelario caught in foul territory to seal the victory and earn Perakslis his first save.

The Cougars continue their six-game road trip today at 6:35 p.m. against the Cedar Rapids Kernels at Perfect Game Field. Left-hander Michael Heesch (2-4) starts for the Cougars against lefty Brett Lee (4-3).