Cougars still waiting to clinch playoff spot

APPLETON, Wisc. - The Kane County Cougars (76-58, 41-24) suffered a 3-2 walk-off loss against the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (67-67, 36-29) on Wednesday night at Fox Cities Stadium. The Cougars dropped into a first-place tie with Clinton and the magic number for a playoff spot remains at one.

Wisconsin took the first lead of the night, 1-0, on Brent Diaz's third inning lead-off homer. The Timber Rattlers added on in the fourth. Korry Howell singled to lead off the inning and moved to second on right fielder Kristian Robinson's error. A wild pitch moved Howell to third, Thomas Dillard walked then David Fry grounded into a double play to score Howell and make it 2-0.

The Cougars cut the deficit in half on Buddy Kennedy's solo shot in the fifth. Kristian Robinson belted a lead-off homer in the eighth to tie the game.

In the bottom of the ninth, Je'Von Ward began the inning with a single. The next hitter, Pablo Abreu, doubled to plate Ward and win the game for Wisconsin.

Yaramil Hiraldo (1-1) was on the mound when the winning tally scored, handing the right-hander the loss. He pitched 2.1 innings and allowed just that one run. Tyler Gillies (5-2) recorded the final out of the top of the ninth and was credited with the win.