Rattlers win streak ends in heartbreak
Steve Kleen blooped in a two-out RBI double in the bottom of the first inning to give Kane County (24-16) a 1-0 lead.
Chris Dennis tied the game in the top of the second inning. His solo homer to center came on a 3-2 pitch with two outs. The home run was the second of the season for Dennis.
In the third inning, Kane County had a Coleman at first and Steve Kleen at the plate. Coleman took off on a hit-and-run and Kleen sent a grounder back through the middle. Rattler second baseman Brett Lawrie who was ranging over to cover second on the play, tried to backhand the grounder while keeping his foot on the base. However, the ball took a bad hop and got Lawrie in the face. Lawrie left the game at that point and no word was available on his condition.
The Cougars got to Rattler starting pitcher Michael Bowman for four more runs in the bottom of the fourth. They loaded the bases on a double and two singles by the first three hitters. Then, Bowman walked Dusty Napoleon to force in a run. A fielder's choice by Jason Christian plated another run. Jason Ray's two-run double made the score 5-1.
Back-to-back doubles by Dennis and Juan Sanchez got Wisconsin (18-22) to within 5-2 in the top of the fifth. But, that was all the Rattlers would get off Shawn Haviland on the night. The Cougar starting pitcher allowed just four hits and struck out five over seven innings.
Wisconsin got to reliever Jose Guzman in the eighth. Edgar Trejo, Lawrie's replacement started the inning with a double and scored on a Brock Kjeldgaard single. Corey Kemp would be next and his single put runners at first and third with no outs.
Dennis sent a fly ball to left and Kjeldgaard appeared to beat the throw to the plate, but was ruled out for a double play. Guzman got the final out of the eighth to keep the score at 5-3.
Cougar closer Jamie Richmond was touched for a one out single by Erik Miller and a two out single by Jose Duran that put runners at the corners. Richmond got ahead of Trejo 1-2, but Trejo doubled to the gap in right-center to drive in both runs to tie the game 5-5.
Kjeldgaard was next and he sent a grounder to third that looked to be routine to end the inning. But, the ball took a bad hop over the glove of Christian and Trejo raced home with the go ahead run.
But, the Rattlers couldn't close the deal. Rigorberto Almonte, who had entered the game in the sixth inning, got the first out of the ninth. But, he would walk Matt Ray to bring Coleman to the plate. Almonte fell behind Coleman 2-0 and the Cougar shortstop drove the next pitch over the wall in center for a game-ending, two-run homer.
Wisconsin finishes the first leg of their four city, 12-game road trip tomorrow night against the Cougars. The Timber Rattlers have Cody Scarpetta (1-2, 2.96) as the scheduled starting pitcher. Kane County has Pedro Figueroa (3-1, 5.74) on the hill. Game time is 6:30pm.