Cougars end losing streak in Peoria

An off day must have done some good for the Kane County Cougars (34-30, 69-64), as they ended their five-game losing streak with a 6-0 shutout over the Peoria Chiefs (37-27, 76-58) from Dozer Park Wednesday night. With the win, the Cougars technically stay sandwiched between Beloit and Wisconsin for the Western Division Wild Card with five games left in the regular season.

Both starting pitchers put on a show as the game was scoreless for the first six innings of the ballgame. Jake Dahlberg (4-2) didn't allow any base runners either than Yoel Yanqui's first inning one-out walk until Jose Caballero's two-out single in the sixth. Dahlberg coughed up two singles in the seventh before Ryan Grotjohn's RBI single. It was the Cougars' first lead in a week. Two batters later, Jose Herrera padded the lead with a two-out, two-run single for a 3-0 lead.

A three-run advantage was plenty for Lane Ratliff (7-1), who scattered six hits through seven shutout innings. The Cougar left-hander denied any Chiefs base runner of hitting third base and set a season-high with 10 strikeouts. It was Ratliff's seventh straight quality start since joining the Cougar rotation in late July.

Robbie Gordon relieved Dahlberg with a perfect eighth inning, but found some trouble in the ninth. After hitting Tim Susnara and walking Yan Sanchez, Grotjohn continued his offensive surge in Peoria with a three-run homer over the right field wall.

Luis Castillo and Tyler Keele finished off the game with a perfect inning each. Keele struck out the Peoria side in the ninth.

The Cougars can guarantee a winning season and a series victory on Thursday.