Cougars Sweep Double Ticket from Wisconsin
June 24, 2017 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Kane County Cougars News Release
APPLETON, Wl. - It's a 2-0 start for the Kane County Cougars (2-0, 41-28) in the second half. The Cougars make it 10 wins in 11 tries this season against the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (0-2, 26-44) with a pair of triumphs Friday night by 4-3 and 3-2 finals.
Pitted against a star-studded lineup featuring rehabbing big leaguers Ryan Bran and Jonathan Villar, it was a rocky beginning for the Cougars' wnning righty Curtis Taylor (2-4) in game one. Villar doubled to start the home half of the first, followed by a flair single for Braun. With Weston Wilson at the plate, Villar scored on a wild pitch. Braun was plated on a Joantgel Segovia RBI base hit as Wisconsin took a 2-0 lead.
But as they have so many times before this season, the Cougars scored against starter Zack Brown (2-3) in the fourth. Anfernee Grier and Mark Karaviotis began with back-to-back hits, and Ramon Hernandez secured a run with an RBI single.
Taylor had a magnificent start in the aggregate. He finished with six innings on five hits, two runs (two earned), with five strikeouts and two walks. His ERA now stands at 3.32, a month ago it was 5.40.
In a comeback seventh, the Cougars Fernery Ozuna blasted a two-run homer for the go-ahead tallies scoring Jose Queliz. It was Ozuna's first homer as a Cougar this season.
The home half of the seventh was more eventful than planned. Righty Jake Winston (1-1) came in for the save, but allowed two walks, and a base hit RBI to Tucker Neuhaus as Wisconsin got within a run of the Cougars lead with just one out. With the bases loaded, righty Cody Clark (1) notched the save when he spun a 6-4-3 double play ball. The Cougars hung on for an emotionally charged 4-3 victory.
Game two started in much more fruitful fashion as the Cougars burst to a 2-0 lead in the top of the third. Raymel Flores and Adam Walton began the frame against Thomas Jankins (3-5) with base hits, and Ben Deluzio's sac-fly got in a tally as did an RBI double for Marcus Wilson, his 12th two-bagger of 2017.
But Wisconsin tied the game in the fifth, as Villar furthered his strong day at the plate with a two-RBI base knock. Game two went to extras and in a battle of the bullpens, Raymel Flores and Frank Christy came through. With two outs against losing pitcher Luke Barker (1-3), Christy doubled and Flores hit the go-ahead RBI hit. With two scoreless innings, righty Trevor Simms (1-0) picked up the win in his Cougars debut.
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Midwest League Stories from June 24, 2017
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