Jahmai Jones continued his hot stretch of play, launching a solo home run to left field to lead off the game, giving the Bees a 1-0 lead. Kane County, however, went on to score the next seven runs. With two outs in the bottom of the first inning, Mark Karaviotis
Jahmai Jones continued his hot stretch of play, launching a solo home run to left field to lead off the game, giving the Bees a 1-0 lead. Kane County, however, went on to score the next seven runs. With two outs in the bottom of the first inning, Mark Karaviotis walked and moved to third on a Ramon Hernandez double. Luis Silverio singled to right, scoring a pair of runs, putting the Cougars on top, 2-1.
Luis Basabe added to the Cougars lead with a solo home run to right, making the score 3-1. Kane County's big inning came in the fourth when they batted nine times, scoring four runs, highlighted by a Jose Herrera three-run double, extending the Cougars' lead to 7-1.
After the Bees picked up a run on a Jordan Zimmerman RBI single in the sixth, Kane County added an important insurance run in the eighth thanks again to Silverio who singled in Hernandez, pushing the lead to 8-2.
The Bees tried to rally in the ninth, with one out, Brennan Morgan walked and moved to second on an Angel Almao single. With two outs, Jahmai Jones knocked in Morgan with a single. Jack Kruger then drove in Almao with a single to right. Brennon Lund reached on an error, scoring Jones, cutting Kane County's lead to 8-5. The Bees added another run on a wild pitch and then their fifth of the inning on a Sam McDonnell bases loaded walk. The Bees would leave the tying and go-ahead runs on second and third, losing the series opener, 8-7.
Emilio Vargas (2-2) earned the win for Kane County while Travis Herrin (2-4) was charged with the loss for the Bees. Jake Winston (2) picked up the save. The Bees and Cougars continue the series Wednesday morning at 11:00 a.m as Joe Gatto makes the start for the Bees against Sam McWilliams for the Cougars.
NOTES: Jahmai Jones picked up two hits in the loss, he now has 14 mult-hit games this season, leading the team. In the last three games, the Bees have had three innings in which they have batted around. Jonah Wesely struck out five batters in his two scoreless innings.
