GRAND CHUTE, WI - The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers couldn't close out the Kane County Cougars on Sunday afternoon at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium. The Cougars scored five runs in the top of the ninth inning to defeat the Rattlers 6-4.
GRAND CHUTE, WI - The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers couldn't close out the Kane County Cougars on Sunday afternoon at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium. The Cougars scored five runs in the top of the ninth inning to defeat the Rattlers 6-4.
Monte Harrison gave the Timber Rattlers (26-34) a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth inning. Harrison lined a homer to left-center to start the inning. The homer was the tenth of the season for Harrison.
The Cougars (34-27) tied the game in the top of the fifth. Manny Jefferson singled with one out. Alexis Olmeda followed with a double to left-center and Jefferson barely beat the throw to the plate to score the tying run.
That run was the only one allowed by Wisconsin starting pitcher Zack Brown, who tossed six innings, scattered six hits, and struck out four.
Wisconsin went in front with three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning. Trey York started the inning with a single and Ryan Aguilar was hit by a pitch. Nathan Rodriguez tried to bunt the runners over, but York was forced at third for the first out. Trever Morrison picked up Rodriguez with a double to left to score Aguilar. A passed ball with Demi Orimoloye at the plate allowed Rodriguez to score. Then, Orimoloye chopped a double over the head of the drawn-in infield to send Morrison home for a 4-1 lead.
Victor Diaz, who took over for Brown in the top of the seventh, pitched two scoreless innings and took that 4-1 advantage into the ninth, but the lead evaporated quickly.
Jose Herrera and Jefferson singled to start the inning. Herrera had to leave the game with an injury after he scrambled back to second base on Jefferson's single. Pinch-runner Luis Alejandro Basabe entered the game for Herrera.
Adam Walton, who replaced the injured Olmeda in the seventh inning, stepped to the plate for his first at bat of the game and lined a double off the wall in right to score Basabe. The Rattlers lead was down to two runs and that would be all for Diaz.
Miguel Sanchez entered the game from the Wisconsin bullpen for Diaz and allowed a single to Fernery Osuna that drove in Jefferson and sent Walton to third base. Sanchez got the first out of the inning on a shallow flyout to right field.
The biggest play of the game happened next. Anfernee Grier sent a one-hopper back to the mound. Sanchez went to second base with the throw to start a game-ending double play. However, the throw to second wound up in center. Walton scored the tying run and Osuna raced around to third base.
Sanchez would walk the next batter to load the bases. Then, Mark Karaviotis lined a single into right-center to get Osuna home for a 5-4 lead. Kane County added the final run of the inning on a sacrifice fly to left by Ramon Hernandez.
Tommy Eveld, Kane County's closer, entered the game in the bottom of the ninth and retired Wisconsin in order for his thirteenth save of the season.
The final game of the series - and of Wisconsin's homestand - is Monday night. Thomas Jankins (3-4, 4.82) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers. Mack Lemieux (0-2, 6.62) is set to start for the Cougars. Game time is 7:05pm.
The first 1,000 fans to attend this game will receive a poster of Timber Rattlers pitcher Thomas Jankins courtesy of Brew Pub Pizza.
Monday is a Thrivent Financial Make-A-Difference Monday and the featured non-profit is The Building for Kids. Fans who choose to donate items like 9" balloons, small bottles of white glue, glue sticks, gallons of vinegar, or brightly-colored paper plates, cups, and napkins will receive a discounted box seat ticket for $10 (normally $14) to this game. Additionally, $5 of the $10 for the ticket will be donated to The Building for Kids.
Purchase an entrée at any Qdoba location in Appleton, Neenah, or Oshkosh for lunch on Monday and receive a ticket to any Monday home game during the 2017 season as part of Qdoba Q*Monday with NASH-FM.
Teen Night presented by Fox Valley Technical College and teenagers may purchase a reserved seat for $4 or a $10 ticket that includes four of the following five food and beverage items: Hotdog, 10-ounce soda, Nachos with Cheese, Small Popcorn, and Cotton Candy on Monday.
If you can't make it to the ballpark, there are several ways to catch the action. The radio broadcast is on AM1280, WNAM starting with the Potawatomi Hotel & Casino Pregame Show at 6:45pm. The broadcast is also available on TuneIn Radio, IHeartRadio, and MiLB.tv. Monday's game will also be broadcast on Spectrum Sports starting at 7:00pm.
