Cougars can't recover from early deficit

BURLINGTON, Iowa - The Kane County Cougars (24-33, 57-70) couldn't come back from an early deficit as the Burlington Bees (30-27, 62-65) took the series opener 6-1 at Community Field Monday night.

Burlington jumped out to a 2-0 lead as Jordan Serena and Brennon Lund each smacked a 2-out RBI-double against Cougar starter Sam McWilliams (2-5).

The next frame Brendon Sanger ripped a 2-run homer for a 4-0 Bees' advantage. It was the first home run allowed by McWilliams this season and his first since July of 2015 in the Gulf Coast League pitching for the Phillies organization. A sacrifice fly by Jahmai Jones scored Tanner Lubach later on in the inning.

The Bees capped off their offense with a solo short from Jared Walsh in the fourth inning for a 6-0 lead.

The Cougars didn't find the scoreboard until the seventh frame when Joey Armstrong singled home Marcus Wilson to cut the lead 6-1.

Relief pitching kept the Cougars in it as Jeferson Mejia worked 3 scoreless frames, while collecting 7 strikeouts. The Cougar righty faced just one over the minimum with one walk and one hit. Jose Martinez put two runners on in the eighth, but escaped the jam with an inning-ending double play.

Austin Robichaux (3-3) earned the win with 5 shutout innings only allowing 3 hits and 1 walk.