Cougars blanked by Beloit

Despite 9 hits, including 4 from Trevor Gretzky, the Kane County Cougars were shut out by the Beloit Snappers 4-0 contest on Thursday night at Fifth Third Bank Ballpark.

Beloit (71-58, 28-31) grabbed the lead in the top of the third. Felix Pena (4-7) allowed a leadoff single to Nick Rickles before leaving the game with an apparent right leg injury. Rickles advanced to scoring position on a base hit from Sam Roberts before scoring on a Daniel Robertson sac fly.

That’s all the run support that Andres Avila (6-4) needed. Avila scattered six hits over six innings of work while walking one and fanning four. There were many opportunities for the Cougars (50-74, 20-38) to get on the board including the bottom of the third when Jeimer Candelario grounded out with the bases loaded.

Brian Smith and Al Yevoli combined for five scoreless innings of relief for the Cougars before Sheldon McDonald entered in the eighth inning and allowed Beloit to extend their lead. Roberts doubled and came home on a fielder’s choice off the bat of Robertson. Rickles drove home Brett Vertigan with a double in the ninth before a base hit by Roberts brought Rickles to the dish to cap the scoring.