Cougars fall to Loons, 1-0
Midland, Michigan - The Kane County Cougars dropped game two of a three-game road series to the Great Lakes Loons, 1-0, on Saturday night at Dow Diamond.
The Cougars (12-14) had an opportunity to take an early lead in the top of the second inning. With one out, Ernie De La Trinidad doubled to right field. The next batter, Yan Sanchez, singled to put runners at first and third with one away. Joey Rose followed with a strikeout and Luis Basabe flied out to center to end the threat.
The Loons (8-18) responded with a one-out double of their own in the bottom of the second. Carlos Rincon reached second on the two-bagger and scored on Marcus Chiu's RBI single to center, putting the Loons in front 1-0.
After the Loons took the lead, the Cougars only moved runners to scoring position two more times. In the fifth, Joey Rose reached second base with no one out on an error by Great Lakes left fielder Romer Cuadrado. The next three Cougar batters were retired, stranding Rose at second. In the seventh inning, Rose walked with one out. Basebae followed with a single, putting runners at first and second with one down. Gabriel Maciel flied out to left field and Eduardo Diaz struck out to end the inning.
Cougars' starter Jeff Bain (1-1) took the loss, allowed one run in six innings of work, striking out a career-high seven batters. Erbert Gonzalez pitched the seventh and eighth innings out of the Cougar bullpen and did not allow a run, scattering just two hits and striking out two batters.
Loons starter Jesus Vargas (4-0) picked up the win. Vargas threw five shutout innings, allowing three hits, striking out four and walking one. Zach Pop struck out three of the four batters he retired in 1.1 innings of work. Dan Jagiello (1) earned the save, striking out six batters in 2.2 innings of scoreless relief.
The Cougars and Loons play the rubber match of the three-game series on Sunday afternoon. First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 p.m. Follow the action live with Joe Brand on AM 1280 WBIG or on kccougars.com.