Cougars open trip with 3-2 loss

APPLETON, Wis. - The Kane County Cougars (22-15, 67-40) came in to Appleton looking for an end to their losing streak but instead were handed another 1-run loss as they fell to the Timber Rattlers 3-2 at Fox Cities Stadium on Tuesday night.

After a couple of home runs by Jacob Rogers pumped the Cougars to within a run heading into the ninth, Cael Brockmeyer started off the final inning with a single. Giuseppe Papaccio replaced Brockmeyer on the bases and moved into scoring position on a wild pitch from Luke Curtis.

Jeffrey Baez followed up with a deep fly to center field that moved Papaccio to third base. With the tying run at third base, Carlos Penalver was the batter with one out, but a broken-bat soft liner to Wisconsin's third baseman Taylor Brennan sealed the game. Brennan easily made the catch and was able to double up Papaccio for the final out.

The only offense from the Cougars came from Jacob Rogers, who connected on solo home runs in the sixth and eighth innings. Both homers were off reliever Victor Diaz. The Cougars first baseman continues to lead the team with 13 home runs.

Duane Underwood (5-3) was solid through 5 innings, but he made one crucial mistake to Clint Coulter in the second inning. With a runner on, Coulter homered over the left-field wall for a 2-0 Wisconsin lead. The Timber Rattlers grabbed another run in the sixth on Omar Garcia's RBI single.

Left-hander Anthony Banda (6-6) held the Cougars scoreless through 5 innings, allowing 2 hits and striking out seven. Curtis picked up his first save.

Wednesday's pitching matchup will be right-handers Jen-Ho Tseng (6-0, 2.68) of the Cougars and Wisconsin's Tristan Archer (3-5, 4.15). First pitch at Fox Cities Stadium is 7:05 p.m.