Cougars top Timber Rattlers 4-3

APPLETON, Wis. - Ryan Doolittle worked out of bases-loaded no-out jam in the bottom of the ninth inning Monday afternoon to help the Kane County Cougars beat the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, 4-3, at Time Warner Cable Field.

The Cougars have taken two of the first three in the four-game series and, pending other Midwest League activity Monday night, will stay at least 1.5 games behind Clinton for the top playoff spot and at least 1.0 game ahead of Beloit for the wild-card spot with seven games left.

The Cougars led, 4-1, entering the bottom of the ninth with Connor Hoehn, who had worked a perfect eighth inning, on the mound. The Rattlers used three hits, a wild pitch and a walk to chase Hoehn and make it 4-3. Doolittle entered with runners at second and third and walked Chris Dennis intentionally to load the bases, which led to a 5-2-3 double play from Cameron Garfield. Then Doolittle got Michael Marseco to line out to third, as Leonardo Gil made a leaping catch to end the game.

The Cougars built a 4-0 lead in the early innings against Hiram Burgos (5-6). Tyreace House poked a run-scoring fielder's choice in the second to make it 1-0. Then in the third Rashun Dixon walked with the bases loaded, and Jason Christian nailed a two-run single for a 4-0 score. Starter Dan Straily (9-7) picked up the win with seven innings of one-run ball. He walked three and fanned seven in his team-best 10th quality start before handing it off to Hoehn.