Cougars fall behind early, lose 11-5

The Kane County Cougars allowed 7 runs in the first two innings and fell 11-5 to the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers on Saturday night at Fifth Third Bank Ballpark.

Dillon Maples (0-2) started for the Cougars (29-36) and did not make it out of the first inning. The righty walked four batters, including Mike Garza with the bases loaded.

Victor Roache lashed a 2-run single and Brent Dean bounced into an RBI fielder’s choice. Maples left after recording just two outs and allowing 4 runs on 2 hits in the first inning.

Justin Amlung recorded the final out of the first before surrendering 3 runs in the second. After a pair of leadoff singles, Michael Reed drove in a run with an RBI double. Adam Giacalone followed with a 2-RBI double to put the Cougars down 7-0 after two innings.

The Cougars’ offense responded with 3 runs in the third inning thanks to an RBI single from Bijan Rademacher, an RBI groundout by Dan Vogelbach and Jeimer Candelario’s RBI single.

After tacking on another run in the fourth, the Cougars would strand runners in scoring position in the fifth, seventh and eighth innings.

Preston Gainey (3-5) worked 5 innings, allowing runs in the win for the Timber Rattlers. Eric Semmelhack was the only arm to work out of the bullpen, and he was excellent. He tossed 4 innings to earn the save, allowing just 1 run, a ninth-inning home run to Ramdemacher.

The Timber Rattlers added 3 runs in the ninth off Lendy Castillo. Felix Pena worked a solid 4 innings out of the bullpen, surrendering just 1 run while striking out five and walking one.

The Cougars complete the first half with the finale of a three-game series against the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers on Sunday at 1 p.m. Righty Pierce Johnson (4-5) will start for the Cougars, and the Timber Rattlers will send Tyler Wagner (2-5) to the mound.