Kane County Cougars lose 7-6

APPLETON, Wis. — The Kane County Cougars (21-21) dropped a 7-6 nail-biter to the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (21-22) Sunday at Fox Cities Stadium. The game featured four lead changes and ended with Trevor Mitsui nearly tying the game with a flyball to deep center field.

The Cougars took their second lead of the game in the sixth inning, after connecting on their second set of back-to-back RBI triples. After Luis Veras reached on an error, Joey Armstrong brought him home with triple before Sergio Alcantara followed with another RBI triple. That knocked Timber Rattlers starter David Burkhalter out of the game, and the Cougars regained the lead on Robelys Reyes' RBI sacrifice fly off Scott Grist (3-0).

Wisconsin came right back with the advantage in the bottom of the sixth as Luis Aviles launched a 2-run homer over the left-field wall for a 7-6 Wisconsin lead and eventually the game.

The first set of Cougars RBI triples came in the fifth when Joe Munoz and Mitsui connected to bring the team within a run.

Wisconsin scored 3 runs in the first inning, including a 2-run shot from Jake Gatewood off Cougars starter Junior Garcia.

Tyler Mark (0-3) suffered the loss, allowing 3 runs in 4 innings with 5 strikeouts.

Nate Griep pitched the ninth to pick up his fifth save with 2 strikeouts before Mitsui's flyball to the warning track.

The Cougars and Timber Rattlers wrap up the four-game series Monday. Left-hander Cody Reed will take the mound for the Cougars against Wisconsin's Devin Williams with first pitch at 12:05 p.m.