GENEVA, Ill. – The Kane County Cougars (8-15, 41-52) fell to their former affiliate as the South Bend Cubs (15-8, 56-36) took a 5-2 decision from Fifth Third Bank Ballpark. Max Duval (0-1) tossed six innings on just two earned runs in his league debut, but the Cougars were held scoreless the last five innings.

The runs for the Cougars were provided on sacrifice flies from Trevor Mitsui and Luis Basabe. Those RBI put the Cougars down just two into the sixth inning, but after the first two runners reached base in the frame, the Cougars failed to score and did not stage any rallies thereafter. Overall, the Cougars were just 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position.

For the sixth straight game, the Cougars allowed their opponent to score first. The Cubs plated two runs in both the second and third innings. Bryan Flete, Josh Silver, Donnie Dewees, and Tyler Alamo all contributed RBI as the Cubs managed eight hits in six innings against Duval.

Facing 21-year old righty, Adbert Alzolay (6-4), the Cougars scored a pair of unanswered runs in the third and fourth frames. After Gerard Hernandez began the third with a base hit, Colin Bray walked, and Fernery Ozuna’s soft single to right field loaded the bases. The Cougars capitalized two men later on Mitsui’s sac-fly RBI, his 50^th run knocked in of 2016. In the fourth, Luis Basabe sent a run in on a sacrifice fly.

After blanking the Cubs for three consecutive innings, the Cubs added a tally in the seventh against new pitcher, Mason McCullough (0-1). The run scored with two outs as Andruw Monasterio easily trotted home on a three-bagger from Dewees, his league leading 12^th of the campaign.

Duval suffered the loss in his first appearance as a Cougar, Alzolay logged the win as Tommy Nance (1) notched three scoreless innings for his first save. Sunday, the Cougars play a 1 p.m. contest against the Cubs.