Home run power rescues Cougars
With the game tied 3-3 entering the bottom of the eighth, Jeimer Candelario ripped a two-run homer and Rock Shoulders followed with a solo blast to propel the Kane County Cougars to a 6-3 victory over the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers on Wednesday afternoon at Fifth Third Bank Ballpark in Geneva.
Both starters threw well on Wednesday afternoon as they worked around a number of defensive miscues. Felix Pena started for the Cougars (42-61, 12-25) and worked seven full innings for the second time this year. The righty took a no-decision despite allowing just one unearned run. He allowed three total tallies as the Cougars defense committed four errors behind him. Pena walked three, struck out one and gave up eight hits.
Tyler Wagner began the game on the mound for the Timber Rattlers (44-59, 15-23) and tossed six innings and allowed just two runs on five hits. The Timber Rattlers righty struck out seven while walking just two.
Wisconsin plated two runs in the third inning to take the first lead of the game. Orlando Arcia went first to third on a single and an error by Reggie Golden. Golden’s throw to third bounced into the stands and allowed Arcia to score. Alfredo Rodriguez was awarded third and scored when the next batter, Lance Roenicke, bounced out to the shortstop.
Gioskar Amaya sparked a game-tying two-run rally in the sixth when he reached third to begin the frame on a double and an error. Amaya scored on a groundout from Almora. Dan Vogelbach and Jeimer Candelario followed with singles before Rock Shoulders blooped an RBI single into left to tie the game at two.
The Timber Rattlers retook the lead in the seventh on an error by Marco Hernandez before the Cougars’ late-inning heroics.
Michael Hamann tossed a scoreless ninth for his fourth save of the year. Hamann has tossed nine scoreless innings to begin his Cougars career. Lefty Sheldon McDonald pitched around a leadoff single in the eighth inning to earn his first win with the Cougars this season.
The Cougars continue a four-game series against the Timber Rattlers at Fifth Third Bank Ballpark on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. Righty Tayler Scott (4-6) will work for the Cougars and righty Jorge Lopez (5-6) will toss for the Timber Rattlers.