Rattlers knocked out of playoffs in a heartbreaking loss
GENEVA, IL - The Kane County Cougars defeated the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers 4-3 in thirteen innings on Thursday night at Fifth Third Bank Ballpark. The win gave the Cougars a sweep in the best-of-three first round Midwest League playoff series.
The Cougars took the lead in the bottom of the first inning. Chesny Young doubled to right with one out in the frame. Jeimer Candelario followed with a double to right-center on the next pitch and Kane County was up 1-0. That was the only run allowed y Wisconsin starting pitcher Preston Gainey.
Clint Coulter tied the game for Wisconsin with a leadoff home run in the top of the fourth inning. Coulter, who hit 22 homers during the regular season, blasted a 1-1 pitch from Duane Underwood over the wall in left-center.
Wisconsin had the bases loaded with two outs later in the fourth inning. Jose Pena lined a 1-2 pitch from Kane County starter Duane Underwood to right field to drive in both Rafael Neda and Chris McFarland to give the Rattlers a 3-1 lead.
Gainey protected the 3-1 lead, but left after walking Trey Martin with one out in the bottom of the seventh inning. Gainey left after allowing one run on four hits with five strikeouts over 6-1/3 innings. Trevor Seidenberger took over and struck out the next two batters to send the game to the eighth.
Seidenberger hit Jeimer Candelario to start the bottom of the eighth inning. That brought Mike Olt to the plate. Olt, who hit twelve home runs in 72 games with the Chicago Cubs this season, cracked a 1-2 pitch over the scoreboard in left-center to tie the game 3-3. Olt, who hit a three-run homer in Game One of the series, a 7-3 Kane County win.
The Cougars nearly won the game in the bottom of the ninth inning. They had the bases loaded with one out and Olt was due to bat, but the Cougars sent Danny Lockhart up to pinch-hit. Trey Martin broke from third on the first pitch to Lockhart on a suicide squeeze attempt. But, Lockhart missed and Martin was run down between third and home for the second out. Later in the at bat, Lockhart sent a liner towards left, but shortstop Angel Ortega made a spectacular diving catch to end the inning.
Martin nearly won the game in the eleventh inning. He lined a pitch deep left with one out against reliever Luke Curtis and went into his home run trot. But, the ball hit off the top of the wall and dropped at the feet of Pena on the warning track. Martin tried to turn on the speed to get to second for a double, but was out on a strong relay throw from Ortega.
Wisconsin's best chance to score in extra innings came in the top of the twelfth inning. Taylor Brennan walked with two outs and the Cougars went to the bullpen. Francisco Carrillo entered the ballgame and proceeded to walk the next two batters to load the bases. But, the Rattlers could not capitalize as Carrillo got the next batter to ground out.
The end came in the thirteenth inning. Martin reached on an infield single against Brandon Moore to start the frame. Shawon Dunston, Jr. dropped a sacrifice bunt and a throwing error put runners at second and third. Moore walked Young intentionally to load the bases and Wisconsin brought Michael Ratterree in from right field to play as a fifth infielder with Candelario at the plate.
Moore got ahead of Candelario 1-2, but the Cougars third baseman lined a clean single to center to drive in Martin with the winning run and end Wisconsin's season.
HOME RUNS:
WIS:
Clint Coulter (1st, 0 on in 4th inning off Duane Underwood, 0 out)
KC:
Mike Olt (2nd, 1 on in 8th inning off Trevor Seidenberger, 0 out)
WP: Francisco Carrillo (1-0)
LP: Brandon Moore (0-1)
TIME: 4:36
ATTN: 2,796