Cougars get blanked by Snappers

Seven innings of 1-run baseball from Carlos Hernandez was not enough for the Kane County Cougars (25-36, 58-73) as they couldn't score a single run off the Beloit Snappers (24-37, 56-74) in the 1-0 loss from Fifth Third Bank Ballpark Friday evening.

Beloit's lone run came in the fourth inning. Trace Loehr led off with a double for the first Snapper hit. Luis Barrera then chopped a grounder on the right side of the infield that Ramon Hernandez gloved and tossed to the covering Carlos Hernandez at first base. On the play, Loehr never stopped on the bases and took off for home. Carlos Hernandez fired the ball toward home plate, but threw above catcher Frank Christy allowing Loehr to score.

The only mistake by Carlos Hernandez (7-10) was the difference in the game. The Cougar right-hander worked a season-high 7 innings with just 3 hits allowed and tied a season high with 8 strikeouts. It was the 49th quality start by a Cougar this season and Hernandez's eighth of the year.

Michael Murray started the game for the Snappers, but only worked four shutout innings despite retiring the last 10 Cougars that he faced. After that the Cougars looked to start a rally against Tyler Willman (1-1) in the sixth. After a leadoff single by Marcus Wilson, Willman loaded the bases on back-to-back one-out walks to Fernery Ozuna and Frank Christy. A pitching change brought Armando Ruiz in, but he won a long battle against Ramon Hernandez with a 4-6-3 inning ending double play.

The Cougars hardly touched Ruiz for the final three innings, only drawing one walk against the Beloit reliever. Ruiz earned his third save of the season with three two-third scoreless frames.