Johnson Tosses Shutout in W to Close 1st Half
Published on June 16, 2013 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Kane County Cougars News Release
Geneva, Illinois - On Father's Day at Fifth Third Bank Ballpark, Pierce Johnson tossed a career-high seven scoreless innings and Reggie Golden drove in a pair of runs to give the Kane County Cougars a 4-2 win over the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers on Sunday afternoon in Geneva, IL to close out the first half of the Midwest League schedule.
Cougars (30-36) starter Pierce Johnson (5-5) worked just two perfect innings against the Timber Rattlers (29-35) stranding runners in scoring position in the first, third and sixth innings. The biggest jam Johnson had to work out of was in the sixth inning when he surrendered a single sandwiched in between a pair of two-out walks. With the bases loaded, Mike Garza scalded a line drive right at Cougars third baseman Jeimer Candelario that ended the inning and the threat. Johnson walked three in the game and struck out five while allowing just one hit.
With Timber Rattlers starter Tyler Wagner on the mound, Reggie Golden sparked the Cougars offense in the third with a solo blast that ricocheted off the Fifth Third Bank Ballpark sign in left field. In the fourth, the Cougars scored three two-out runs by hitting for the cycle. Rock Shoulders smashed a solo home run, his Midwest League-leading 13th of the season. Gioskar Amaya followed with a single. Carlos Escobar drove him in with an RBI double before Golden plated Escobar with a bloop RBI triple. Wagner (6-5) worked five innings allowing two home runs, seven hits and four runs.
The Timber Rattlers did not go down quietly against the Cougars bullpen. In the eighth inning, Nathan Dorris loaded the bases allowing a single and two walks. Garza delivered a two-out, two-RBI single to cut Wisconsin's deficit in half and put the tying runners in scoring position. Dorris would strike out Chris McFarland to get out of the jam.
Stephan Perasklis (3) worked the ninth inning and allowed the tying runs to reach base with just one out. The righty induced a fly out off the bat of Max Walla before striking out Tyrone Taylor with a breaking ball to secure the win and his third save in three chances.
The Cougars have three days off for the all-star break before opening a four-game set in Quad Cities on Thursday, June 20th at 7:00 p.m. The pitching matchup is TBD. Kane County returns home on Wednesday, June 25th at 6:30 p.m. with the first game of a four-game series against the Beloit Snappers. For tickets, please call (630) 232-8811 or visit www.kccougars.com.
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