Cougars bang out 21 hits in LKings loss

Geneva, IL (August 18, 2018) - Clinton LumberKings pitching allowed a season high 21 hits to the Kane County Cougars in an 8-3 loss on Saturday night at Northwestern Medicine Field. Ariel Sandoval and Joseph Rosa were the offense for Clinton (25-30, 64-61) each homering to tie the game.
Kane County (29-25, 64-59) jumped out quickly on LumberKings starter Scott Boches in the bottom of the first. Five straight hits by Cougars batters staked them to an early 2-0 lead with the RBI hits coming from Yoel Yanqui and Tim Susnara.
The lead did not last long for the Cougars. In the top of the second inning, Dimas Ojeda singled to center and was followed three pitches later by a Sandoval two-run home run off the four pole in left to tie the game at two. The home run was his team leading 18^th of the year.
Former LumberKing Lane Ratliff started for Kane County and allowed all three of the LumberKings runs over his six innings of work. He allowed eight hits while walking none and striking out seven to earn his sixth win of the year.
Kane County briefly reclaimed their lead in the bottom of the fourth inning on an RBI single by Jancarlos Cintron.
The LumberKings then answered the run with their final tally of the night. Joseph Rosa lined a two out solo home run to right for his sixth home run of the year off Ratliff (6-1) to tie the score at three.
Marvin Gorgas (6-3) followed Boches out of the bullpen for Clinton and was given the loss for a 2.1 inning outing in which he allowed the game's deciding run to score in the bottom of the fifth. Eudy Ramos doubled off the base of the wall in left center to force home Yan Sanchez and put the Cougars on top for good.
Kane County pulled away with a three-run rally in the bottom of the seventh and added the final run of the game in the bottom of the eighth to stretch their lead to five.
Clinton loaded the bases in the top of the ninth with nobody out but failed to score when Luis Castillo was called on and struck out the next three batters to register his third save of the year.
The LumberKings will meet the Kane County Cougars for the second game of their three-game series on Sunday afternoon. Clinton will throw right-hander Tyler Jackson (1-2, 4.06) while the Cougars will counter with lefty Franklyn Soriano (1-2, 2.78). Game time is slated for 1:00 PM. Fans looking to listen to the game can hear Erik Oas on the call on 100.3 FM WCCI and online at lumberkings.com via the tunein radio ap at 12:45 PM with the pregame show.
About the LumberKings 
 
The LumberKings, the only remaining Charter Member of the Midwest League, are in their 63rd season in the league and their 10th as an affiliate of the Seattle Mariners. Since the club's inception in 1937, 280 former Clinton players have made it to the Major Leagues. The LumberKings play at historic Ashford University Field located off 6th Avenue North at 537 Ballpark Drive. Advertising and tickets for the 2018 season are available by calling (563) 242-0727 or by visiting lumberkings.com