Cougars plagued by errors in 7-5 loss to Michigan

Errors plagued the Kane County Cougars on Saturday night at Fifth Third Bank Ballpark in front of a season-high 10,741 fans as the West Michigan Whitecaps pulled off a 7-5 victory.

A run for the Cougars (67-37, 22-12) started the night in the bottom of the first as Shawon Dunston Jr. was hit by a pitch and went to second on a wild pitch against West Michigan (63-41, 22-12) starter Austin Kubitza (9-1). Dunston scored on a base hit by Carlos Penalver to put the Cougars on top.

West Michigan grabbed the advantage in the top of the second with 3 runs which all scored on the same play. Jeff Holm and Francisco Contreras scored on a single to center by Willy Adames. As Adames tried to take second on a throw to the plate, Jacob Rogers cut the throw off and chucked it into center field which allowed Adames to come all the way home to score.

Trey Martin singled to begin the bottom of the third and came home on a Dunston triple to right-center. Dunston crossed the dish when Penalver bounced to short to even the score at 3-3. Chesny Young's RBI triple in the fourth gave the Cougars a brief lead, but Paul Blackburn (8-4) couldn't hold it in the fifth.

Javier Betancourt doubled and Raph Rhymes reached on an error, one of 5 on the night from the Cougars. Dominic Ficociello singled home Betancourt. Rhymes scored on a sac fly from Contreras, and the Whitecaps never trailed again. Julio Felix (S, 10) fanned the final 2 batters of the ballgame to give West Michigan the win.

The Cougars and Whitecaps play again on Sunday with a 1 p.m. first pitch from Fifth Third Bank Ballpark. Right-hander Tyler Skulina (4-6, 3.38) will start for the Cougars against fellow righty Jon Maciel (4-4, 3.67).