Cougars notch 55th victory
The Kane County Cougars won 55 games all of last season. With a lopsided 10-2 victory over the Peoria Chiefs on Thursday, the host Cougars (10-3, 55-28) have already matched that total.
The Cougars won the first-half Western Division title, thrown a no-hitter and have not lost a series at home. With 10,515 watching at Fifth Third Ballpark in Geneva, the Cougars improved to 35-10 at home.
Yasiel Balaguert's 2-run double in the first inning that drove home Jake Hannemann and Kyle Schwarber got the Cougars rolling. Later, David Bote drove in 3 runs with a couple of hits, Hannemann had an RBI single, Cael Brockmeyer blasted a solo homer and Shawon Dunston Jr doubled across a run.
Cougars starter and winner Daury Torrez (9-3) brought a 16-inning scoreless streak into the game stretched it to 20 before an error snapped it.
The Cougars depart on six-game road trip that begins today in Clinton, Iowa against the Lumber Kings.