It's a wonderful start for Bailey

GRAND CHUTE, WI -- Kane County Cougar starting pitcher Andrew Bailey struck out a career high twelve batters as he picked up his first win of the season in an 8-6 win over the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers Friday night at Time Warner Cable Field. Jermaine Mitchell contributed with a key three-run double in a big five run sixth inning for the Cougars. Wisconsin's defense committed four errors and Rattler hitters struck out a total of eighteen times in the game.

Kane County (17-42) took the early lead with an unearned run in the top of the first inning. Larry Cobb doubled with one out. He scored on a throwing error later in the inning.

The Cougars added a run in the top of the third on an RBI single by David Castillo.

The Rattlers (17-41) got a run back in the bottom of the third. Kalian Sams doubled. He went to third on a wild pickoff throw to second by Bailey. An RBI ground out by Alex Meneses got Sams across the plate.

But, Kane County went up 3-1 in the top of the fifth. Rattler reliever Rollie Gibson threw wildly to first on a pickoff with runners at first and third to allow Mitchell to walk home from third base.

Jair Fernandez lined a solo homer in the bottom of the fifth inning to get the Rattlers back to within a run.

However, the Cougars pulled away in the top of the sixth with five runs. Sammy Hernandez started the frame with a walk. Matt Sulentic dropped a poor sacrifice bunt to Wisconsin third baseman Alex Liddi. Liddi fired to second for a force out, but shortstop Juan Diaz did not make the catch and both runners were safe. A single loaded the bases and that was it for Gibson. Justin Souza entered the game and promptly walked in a run. Then, Mitchell doubled in three for a 7-2 Kane County lead. Mitchell would score on a wild pitch to make it 8-2.

Bailey finished his outing by retiring the side in order, included striking out the final two batters, in the bottom of the sixth. He allowed two hits and two runs (one earned) for the win. Bailey has pitched against the Rattlers on Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium twice this season. In 12 innings in Grand Chute, Bailey has struck out 23 Rattler batters.

The Rattlers managed to load the bases against reliever Jason Fernandez in the bottom of the eight on an infield single, a hit batsman, and a walk. Trevor Lawhorn lined the first pitch of his at bat over the left field wall for a grand slam and the Rattlers were within 8-6. The grand slam by Lawhorn was the first by a Timber Rattler since Oswaldo Navarro hit one on August 3, 2005.

But, Wisconsin would not get another base runner. Fernandez got a strike out, his fifth, to end the eighth. Brandon Dewing worked a 1-2-3 ninth with a strikeout to finish the game.

The Rattlers and Cougars have a double header scheduled for Saturday. Wisconsin has Nathan Adcock (1-4, 3.64) and Rob Harmon (1-3, 5.58) as their scheduled starting pitchers. Kane County will counter with James Heuser (3-2, 3.34) and Henry Rodriguez (1-3, 3.48). The first seven inning game will start at 4:05pm.