Cougars beat Peoria 4-2

The Kane County Cougars (56-57, 21-23) knocked off the Peoria Chiefs (66-47, 27-15), 4-2, on Wednesday night at Northwestern Medicine Field.

The Cougars grabbed a second inning lead on Luis Lara's RBI single. In the fourth, the Cougars added on, using three straight hits to plate the second tally. Jancarlos Cintron doubled to start the frame. Tra Holmes' bunt single put runners at first and third with no one out. Eudy Ramos rocketed a single to centerfield to give the Cougars a 2-0 advantage.

Peoria struck back for a run in the fifth on Wood Myers' RBI knock. However, the Cougars neutralized that run with their own score in the bottom of the fifth when Yan Sanchez roped an RBI single back through the box. Holmes collected an RBI single in the sixth to provide insurance. The Chiefs inched closer on Bryce Denton's RBI single in the seventh, but got no closer than 4-2.

Peoria stranded the bases loaded in the ninth inning after Cougar right-hander Luis Castillo walked the bases loaded with two outs.

Lane Ratliff (4-1) earned the win for the Cougars. The lefty spun seven innings of two-run ball, allowing seven hits with seven punchouts and three walks. Abraham Almonte provided two outs in the eighth. Castillo pitched an inning without allowing a run. Kyler Stout came on to get the final out.

Jake Dahlberg took the loss for the Chiefs. He allowed four runs on 12 hits over five innings. Thomas St. Clair tossed 1.2 innings of shutout ball. Patrick Dayton pitched 1.1 scoreless frames.