Cougars destroy DockHounds 13-3

Thanks to 13 runs on 6 hits, the Kane County Cougars cruised to a 13-3 victory over the Lake Country DockHounds on Thursday night in front of 7,705 fans at Northwestern Medicine Field.

After falling in an early 2-0 hole, the Cougars (33-33) scored 13 unanswered runs. By the end of the game, every Cougar had reached base and scored a run. It was the sixth time that Kane County scored 10 or more runs against the DockHounds (24-41) this season. Along with six hits, the Cougars drew 12 walks against Lake Country pitching.

The DockHounds jumped out to the lead against Cougars' starter Jack Fox (7-1) in the top of the third. Wilfredo Gimenez led off the frame with a single before Tristen Carranza singled to put runners at first and second. Following Carranza's single, Daikan Yoh cleared the gap in right-center field with a two-run double to give Lake Country an early edge.

In the bottom of the third, the Cougars cut into the lead against Lake Country starter Greg Loukinen (0-1). Alexis Pantoja blasted a solo homer over the right-field fence for the Cougars first hit and run of the game.

Kane County took the lead in the bottom of the fourth. Loukinen issued four walks, the final one to Pantoja with the bases loaded that allowed Jimmy Kerrigan to score and tie the game at two. With the bases still loaded, Galli Cribbs Jr. ripped a two-run single into the gap to put the Cougars up 4-2. Kane County added one more run on an RBI fielder's choice by Ernie De La Trinidad to make it 5-2.

Two innings later, the Cougars broke the game wide open. After the first three hitters of the inning reached, Nick Anderson crushed a grand slam over the right-center field fence to put the Cougars up 9-2. The Cougars went on to add four more runs in the inning, one on an RBI double by Dylan Busby, another on a passed ball, and two more runs on bases loaded walks. Kane County scored eight runs in the frame and sent 14 men to the plate.

After allowing two runs in the third, Jack Fox settled into a groove. The right-hander earned a quality start as he allowed just three runs on six hits with six strikeouts against three walks. To close out the ballgame, Jack Anderson and Ryan Richardson each pitched a scoreless frame.