Basabe leads in Cougars comeback win

Led by the offensive production of Luis Basabe, the Kane County Cougars (22-29, 55-66) came back to defeat the visiting Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (24-27, 58-63) by a 6-2 final. Basabe finished the night with 2 hits, a triple and a homer, driving in 4 runs. The Cougars erased an early deficit, tied the game in the third, and plated four in a triumphant seventh to tie up the series at one win a piece.

Scoring their ninth and tenth unanswered runs against the Cougars in the season series, Wisconsin took an early 2-0 lead. Cougar starter Carlos Hernandez (6-9) scuffled in the first. He walked three runners including a bases loaded free pass to Max McDowell. In the third, Wisconsin posted 3 hits, scoring on a Lucas Erceg single and error by Gerard Hernandez in left field.

From the home half of the third inning forward, the Cougars owned the momentum. The Cougars managed to tie the game at two a piece thanks to Basabe's aggressive approach. The Cougars designated hitter struck with a triple-RBI to the right center gap and scored on a wild pitch.

As Hernandez settled down, Wisconsin also received a solid outing from their starter, righty Jordan Yamamoto (5-8). The starters combined for 6 innings and 2 runs each, both quality outings. Hernandez had 6 strikeouts, Yamamoto racked up seven.

With the game tied at 2, the Cougars batted around in the seventh and took the lead, 6-2. Against Wisconsin's right-hander Matt Smith (0-1), the Cougars bats came to life. Stephen Dezzi began the frame with a lead-off triple and scored on a wild pitch. The Cougars then put two men on for Basabe, who hit his first home run of the season, a 3-run blast on to the patio deck past right field.

Leading 6-2, Austin Mason (5-0) put the finishing touches on a victory with 3 innings of scoreless work. Smith took the loss in his first appearance in a Timber Rattlers uniform.