Kane County Cougars fall 7-4 in 14 innings
In 14 innings, the Kane County Cougars (22-30, 55-67) dropped a heartbreaking contest to the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (25-27, 59-63) by a 7-4 tally. With no runs scored after the sixth inning, the game was decided in the top of the 14th when the Timber Rattlers' Trent Clark posted a go-ahead two RBI double.
On the board early, the Cougars put up a two-spot against righty Jordan Desguin (0-1) in the first inning. The circus of events began with a fly ball dropped in left field, allowing Fernery Ozuna to reach second. Marcus Wilson then singled, moments later a wild pitch sent a run home. Putting the final touches on the inning, Joey Armstrong ripped a two-out base hit RBI down the third baseline.
Wisconsin put up a single run in the fourth only for the Cougars to put up two more tallies in the fifth stanza. As Raymel Flores and Luis Basabe reached on free passes, Flores scored on a passed ball and Basabe scored on an RBI base hit for Stephen Dezzi. It was Dezzi's first RBI as a Cougar.
In line for the win, right-hander Sam McWilliams (2-4) left after the fifth inning, close to a quality start. In total, McWilliams allowed only four hits, one run (earned) and posted four strikeouts with just one walk. It was a triumphant response for McWilliams, a start removed from an outing that spanned only two innings.
Leading 4-1 after five innings, the Timber Rattlers rallied against the Cougars bullpen. Wisconsin tied the game with the first two runs on RBI from Jake Gatewood and Lucas Erceg. Lefty Hector Hernandez (1-0) saw his ERA balloon from under 1.80 to 2.55 in less than an inning, pulled after just one out. In came right Keegan Long (0-1). Long retired the two batters he faced, but his wild pitch allowed the game -tying run to score.
There was no scoring thereafter for seven innings as the game went to the 14th inning. The 2016 Cougar debut of Jeferson Mejia (0-1) did not go as planned. Mejia hit a batter, allowed a walk, and had to face the formidable leadoff man Clark. Clark reached base for the fifth time when his corkscrew double plated two go-ahead runs. Clark came around to score as well on an RBI from Luis Aviles. In the home half of the 14th, the Cougars went down 1-2-3 against closer Nate Griep (19) who managed the save.
Grabbing a win in relief, Quintin Torres-Costa (6-2) defeats Mejia as the Cougars play the final game of the home stand on Thursday. At 6:30 p.m., the first pitch sees the Cougars' Max Duval (1-4, 2.31 ERA) pitted against Wisconsin's Zack Brown (1-1, 2.17 ERA).