Cougars fall to Timber Rattlers 4-0

Kyle Zimmer allowed just a run in four innings, but the Kane County Cougars (50-52, 16-16) lost a 4-0 ballgame to the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (59-42, 15-17) on Thursday night at Fifth Third Bank Ballpark.

Zimmer (0-1) struck out 5 over his four frames as he pitched in Class A for the first time while allowing 5 hits. Wisconsin picked up their only run off Zimmer in the fourth as Greg Hopkins doubled with one away and scored on a two-out knock from Ben McMahan. Zimmer was pulled after working through the inning.

Andrew Triggs replaced Zimmer in the fifth and picked up another 5 strikeouts while pitching 3 scoreless innings of one-hit ball. It wasn’t until the eighth when Mike Giovenco entered that the Timber Rattlers were able to pull away. Yadiel Rivera singled to start the inning and took second when Chadwin Stang walked. Max Walla was trying to bunt the two runners over a bag when Giovenco fired his throw to first down the right field line, scoring Rivera and Stang.

Walla came home on a base hit by Nick Ramirez to cap the scoring. Chad Pierce (4-3) limited the Cougars to just 3 hits over seven innings of work while punching out eight. Kane County had its scoring chances, especially late in the game but left five men on over the last three innings ending up 0-for-11 with runners in scoring position.

The Cougars host the Timber Rattlers at 6:30 p.m. Friday.