Cougars suffer loss No. 76
GRAND CHUTE, Wis. — A balk allowed the go-ahead to score as the Kane County Cougars dropped their second straight game to the Timber Rattlers in a 4-2 loss Monday night.
With the loss, the Cougars (22-40, 52-76) tie the franchise record for losses in a season set by the 1992 club that went 61-76.
In a tie game, Orlando Arcia led the Timber Rattlers’ (58-70, 29-34) half of the fifth off with a single. Arcia moved to second on a wild pitch and third on a groundball.
With Adrian Williams at the plate, James Pugliese started his wind up but stopped midway through when distracted by Cougars catcher Willson Contreras who popped out of his crouch as if expecting a pitch out.
The balk allowed Arcia to score giving the Timber Rattlers the lead for good.
James Pugliese (L, 0-1), in his second start of the year for the Cougars, submitted a quality start by throwing 6 innings and allowing 3 runs while striking out four and walking none.
In the top of the second, the Cougars took a 2-run lead against Timber Rattlers starter (10-8) Tyler Wagner. Willson Contreras and Marco Hernandez reached to begin the inning with singles.
Oliver Zapata drove in Contreras with a bouncing RBI single that found a hole on the infield. Reggie Golden followed and plated Hernandez by grounding into a fielder’s choice.
Wagner worked 7 innings allowing 6 hits and 2 runs while striking out seven. Harvey Martin followed and tossed 2 scoreless innings while allowing 1 hit out of the bullpen to earn his third save of the year.
The Timber Rattlers followed and tied the game in the bottom half of the second with a couple of doubles. Victor Roache reached by lining a leadoff single. Parker Berberet drove him home with a double.
Max Walla followed and lined an RBI double into right to tie the game at 2-2.
The Cougars will continue their final road trip of the year, with the finale of a four-game series Tuesday at 12:05 p.m. in Wisconsin against the Timber Rattlers.
Lefty Nathan Dorris (6-3) will start for the Cougars. Righty Jorge Lopez (7-8) will throw for the Timber Rattlers. The Cougars will return home to take on the Chiefs for the final series of the year Saturday,