Cougars get popped by Kernels
The Kane County Cougars fell behind early and never caught up as they fell 8-4 to the Cedar Rapids Kernels on Sunday at Fifth Third Bank Ballpark in Geneva.
The Kernels’ Jonathan Murphy led off the game with a single, Jorge Polanco reached on an error and Adam Brett Walker walked to load the bases with one out. Cougars starter Tayler Scott (5-7) forced Max Kepler to pop out for the second out, but Travis Harrison delivered a 2-run single. As Polanco came home, the throw to the plate got away and Scott then fired the ball wide of second as Walker scored.
In the bottom of the first, Oliver Zapata of the Cougars (47-67, 17-31) walked and scored all the way from first on a double by Giuseppe Pappacio.
Hudson Boyd started for the Kernels (72-45, 32-17) and walked six in 22⁄3 innings. But the Cougars continuously let Boyd off the hook, stranding nine baserunners through the first four innings.
The Kernels put the game away in the fifth when Walker walloped a 3-run homer to make it 6-1.
The Cougars’ Jose Dore collected sacrifice flies in the fifth and seventh innings. Reggie Golden added an RBI double in the seventh against reliever Christian Powell (3-5), who worked 41⁄3 innings. Alex Muren earned his second save by recording the final six outs.
The Cougars wrap up their six-game homestand against the Kernels today 6:30 p.m. when they send left-hander Michael Heesch (3-9) against right-hander Josue Montanez (4-5).