Kane County stops Rattlers 3-2
GRAND CHUTE, WI - The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers missed on a chance to sweep the Kane County Cougars on Sunday afternoon at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium. Trevor Mitsui hit a solo home run in the top of the eighth inning to provide the Cougars with the winning margin in a 3-2 victory.
Wisconsin (27-30) got on the board first with a run in the third inning. Max McDowell's popup to short was lost in the Sun and dropped in for a single. Then, Isan Diaz drew the second of his three walks in the game. One out later, David Denson singled to left and McDowell raced home from second to score and give the Rattlers a 1-0 lead.
Kane County (27-29) came back with two runs in the top of the fourth inning against Wisconsin starting pitcher Marcos Diplan. Grant Heyman hit a solo home run to right with one out to tie the game. Francis Christy was next and he doubled. A single by Galli Cribbs moved Christy to third base and Cribbs would take second on a throw to the plate that missed the cutoff man. Diplan committed a balk to allow Christy to score for a 2-1 lead.
The Rattlers tied the game in the bottom of the fifth inning. Luis Aviles doubled to left and went to third on a grounder off the bat of McDowell. Cougars starting pitcher Alex Young uncorked a wild pitch to let Aviles score.
Both starting pitchers were done after five innings. Diplan struck out eight and scattered six hits over five innings. Young allowed four hits, walked five, and struck out five in his five frames. Neither pitcher was involved in the decision.
Wisconsin reliever Freddy Peralta retired seven of the first eight batters he faced in the game, but Mitsui hit a high line drive to right with one out in the eighth and the ball carried to the beach for his second homer of the game and a 3-2 lead.
Troy Stokes, Jr. drew a walk with one out in the bottom of the ninth to bring Aviles to the plate as the possible winning run against Kane County reliever Gabe Speier. Aviles sent a hard grounder towards right, but first baseman Austin Byler made a tough back-handed pick of the ball and threw to second for the force on Stokes. The return throw to Speier covering at first was just in time to conclude the game-ending double play.
Wisconsin took two of three games in the series from the Cougars, but the loss snapped the Rattlers three-game winning streak.
The Timber Rattlers are off on Monday. They return to action on Tuesday night at home against the Clinton LumberKings. David Burkhalter (3-3, 3.02) is the scheduled starting pitcher for Wisconsin. Clinton has named Zack Littell (3-4, 3.68) as their starting pitcher. Game time is 7:05pm.
The first 1,000 fans to enter the stadium on Tuesday will receive a toothbrush holder in the shape of a Timber Rattlers helmet courtesy of Elite Smiles Dental. Also, the United States Air Force Honor Guard Drill Team will perform before the game. Show your business card when you purchase a ticket and for $13.50 you will receive a box seat ticket, a beverage and your choice of brat or hot dog for the Business Person Special. The offer is also available to military personnel and senior citizens (55 & older) courtesy of Baker Tilly, WVBO, and AM1280 WNAM.
The radio broadcast is on 1280 AM, WNAM starting with the pregame show at 6:45pm. The game is also available on the internet through IHeartRadio, TuneIn, and MiLB.TV.