Golden’s home run give Cougars 4-3 victory
GRAND CHUTE, Wis. — Reggie Golden’s eighth-inning solo home run was the difference Sunday at Fox Cities Stadium in the Kane County Cougars 4-3 victory over the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, snapping a seven-game road losing streak.
Before Golden led off the eighth inning with his third home run of the season, the Cougars (32-44, 2-8) had tied the game in the seventh against Harvey Martin (0-1).
With the bases loaded and two outs, Willson Contreras cracked the game-tying single to score Kevin Encarnacion, who had 3 hits and 2 runs scored.
In the bottom of the fifth, the Timber Rattlers took a 3-2 lead after Michael Reed reached on a single and Alfredo Rodriguez was hit by a Brian Smith pitch before the Cougars’ starter was taken out. With two outs and Armando Rivero on the mound, Parker Berberet knocked in a pair with a single.
After allowing the two inherited runners to score, the Cougars’ bullpen would not allow any more runs. Rivero worked 12⁄3 innings, allowing just 1 hit and striking out three. Lendy Castillo (1-5) tossed 12⁄3 innings for the win, giving up just 1 hit and walking three.
Righty Michael Hamann (first save) retired the final batter of the eighth inning before working a scoreless ninth.
The Cougars and Timber Rattlers continue their five-game set Monday at 7:05 p.m. Right-hander Jose Rosario (0-4) starts for the Cougars against righty Eric Semmelhack (1-4).
The Cougars return to Fifth Third Bank Ballpark on Thursday against the Quad Cities River Bandits at 6:30 p.m.