Cougars rally for 5-3 win

Grand Chute, Wis. — For the second straight game, the Kane County Cougars used a seventh-inning rally on their way to a victory as they defeated the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers 5-3 on Saturday night at Fox Cities Stadium to keep their elimination number at 1.

With the Cougars (22-38, 52-74) down by 2 in the seventh, Jose Dore ripped a leadoff triple against Timber Rattlers (27-34, 56-70) reliever Ryan Gibbard (L, 4-6) before scoring on a Brad Zapenas sacrifice fly.

With two outs in the inning, Oliver Zapata blasted triple to score Gioskar Amaya and tie the game. Jeimer Candelario, who gave the Cougars the lead with two outs in the seventh Friday night, drove in the go-ahead run again Saturday with a two-out RBI single to score Zapata.

After the Cougars scored first on a third-inning sacrifice fly, the Timber Rattlers took the lead in the fifth off Tayler Scott (W, 6-8). With the bases loaded and nobody out, Parker Berberet scored on a passed ball by Willson Contreras.

With two runners in scoring position after the defensive miscue, Alfredo Rodriguez ripped a 2-run double to give Wisconsin a 3-1 lead.

Scott gave up just the 3 runs in a quality start. The righty struck out six, walked three and pitched around 8 hits.

Giuseppe Papaccio added an insurance run in the eighth before Stephen Perakslis pitched 2 shutout innings to earn his seventh save in seven opportunities.

The Cougars continue their final road trip of the year with Game 2 of a four-game series Sunday at 1:05 p.m. in Wisconsin against the Timber Rattlers.

Righty Starling Peralta (2-1) will start for the Cougars. Rodolfo Fernandez (3-3) will throw for the Timber Rattlers.

The Cougars return home Aug. 31 to take on the Chiefs for the final series of the year.