Cougars beat Snappers in series opener
BELOIT, Wis. - Great pitching and late offensive support saw the Kane County Cougars (30-33) steal the series opener with the Beloit Snappers (29-34) at Harry C. Pohlman Field in Wisconsin by a 2-1 final Monday evening.
Both runs for the Cougars were plated on a two-out, two RBI double from Trevor Mitsui in the eighth inning to give the Cougars another comeback win over the Snappers.
For most of the game, it was pitchers' duel between the Snappers' right-hander Michael Murray and Cougars' Carlos Hernandez. Both starters twirled a scoreless ballgame for the first six frames.
The Snappers scored the game's first run with two outs in the seventh against Hernandez. A stellar start throughout, Hernandez did walk five batters, one of them Brett Siddall in the seventh. He reached third and with two outs, second baseman Trace Loehr hit a line drive base hit to left center field to make it 1-0 Snappers.
Murray exited after seven solid frames and a quality outing for Beloit. He finished the night with only five hits yielded along with five strikeouts and two walks.
In the eighth frame, the Snappers brought out the lumber against reliever Jesus Zambrano (1-2). The right-hander, protecting a slim lead, allowed a one out single to Fernery Ozuna. After Ozuna advanced to second on a wild pitch, Austin Byler walked to put two aboard for the Cougars. The next batter, Trevor Mitsui, smashed an opposite field double to score two. The Cougars led 2-1 in the middle of the eighth. Zambrano was charged with the loss and blown save.
Cody Clark (2-0) took the mound after Hernandez allowed Beloit's only run and ended up earning the win. Clark induced a crucial double play in the ninth inning as he got Michael Martin to bounce into a 5-4-3 twin killing with two runners on. Kirby Bellow inherited the tying run at third base after taking over for Clark and finished the game with a lineout from Loehr. Bellow picked up his first save of 2016.
Tuesday's middle game of the series begins at 7:00 from Pohlman Field in Beloit.