With 15 hits, Cougars top River Bandits

DAVENPORT, Iowa - For the fifth consecutive time, the Kane County Cougars (24-32, 57-69) won the rubber game as they connected on 15 hits for a 9-3 win over the Quad Cities River Bandits (27-29, 58-67). It marked the second straight game that the Cougars' pitching staff surrendered four or less hits to the Quad Cities offense.

Stephen Dezzi broke the scoreless tie with an RBI-groundout in the top of the fourth inning. Ramon Hernandez followed up with a run-scoring single for a 2-0 Cougars lead.

In the next inning Fernery Ozuna swatted his second homer in as many days as he launched a solo shot over the right field wall off Quad Cities starter Yoanys Quiala (2-10).

The sixth inning made the biggest difference in the game. Bringing all nine hitters up to the plate, the Cougars' offense scored 6 runs on 5 hits. Ramon Hernandez drove in both Joey Armstrong and Dezzi with a 2-run double. Two batters later Gerard Hernandez scored two more with his own double. That knocked Quiala out of the game and brought in reliever Chris Murphy. Luis Basabe belted the first pitch from Murphy over the right center field wall for his second homer of the year and a 9-0 lead for the Cougars.

For the second consecutive game, the Cougars were backed by solid pitching. Carlos Hernandez (7-9) set the tone with five scoreless innings and only one hit. Quad Cities eventually scored, plating 3 runs in the sixth inning off Carlos Hernandez. The Cougar right-hander picked up his seventh quality outing of the year for the win.

Keegan Long and Julio Perez combined for 3 scoreless, nearly perfect innings to finish off the ballgame.

The Cougars continue their road trip on Monday as they begin a four-game series against the Burlington Bees.