4/9 G1, Cougars 2, Wisconsin 3

The way the game and season started it seemed like it could be a long season. Well it still could be, but they came back and tied the game and had a chance to win. The Cougars would lose game one of the opening day double header 3-2 to the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers.

The Rattlers had big leaguer, Jeff Suppan starting on a rehab assignment, he would go into the fifth inning. He gave up seven hits and one run. Walked three and struck out four. The thing is he showed why he is a big leaguer in the fourth by getting out of a big jam.

Chris Affinito led off the inning with a double to right center. Max Stassi then singled to right. Michael Gilmartin would follow with a single to right center to score Affinito to give the Cougars their first run of the year and tie up the game. Anthony Aliotti then walked to load the bases with nobody out. Suppan then got Rashun Dixon on strikes, and would get Leonardo Gil to ground one back to him to start a double play, with Stassi being out at home and Gil at first.

Wisconsin would score first in the game, the first innings wasn't that good for the Cougars. D'Vontrey Richardson led off with a single to short. On the play Gilmartin's throw to first got away and Richardson went to second. After that, Cougar starter Jonathan Joseph threw a wild pitch to get Richardson to third. Joseph then settled down a little and got to strike outs. Cameron Garfield would single up the middle to score Richardson. Garfield would get to second on a wild pitch, then he got to third on a throwing error by Stassi. Joseph then got Chris Dennis to fly out to right to end the inning.

The second inning also wouldn't go that well for the Cougars, but they did not give up any runs. With one out, Joe Paciorek doubled down the right field line, he would get to third on a wild pith. Carlos George then walked and stole second. Joseph again settled down and got Franklin Romero on strikes.

Kane County did get the lead in the sixth with a run. With one out, Aliotti and Dixon both walked, then a double steal. One out later, Connor Crumbliss hit one to first. He would beat the pitcher to first for a hit. Aliotti scored on the play.

Krish Davis led off the sixth with a walk for the Rattlers. One out later, Dennis singled to left to score Davis. Dennis would then get picked off of first by Ian Krol.

The winning run for the Rattlers was in the seventh. Paciorek led off the inning with a single to right. George then bunted him over to second. Romero was then intentionally walked. Richardson would then tap one in front of the plate and be tagged out by Stassi for the second out. Ryan Gennett then grounded one to second, Crumbliss would misplay the ball, Gennett got a single, and Paciorek would score to win the game.

Kane County stranded eight runners on base, they had plenty of chances to win the game. In the first inning off of Suppan with one out, both Myrio Richard and Kent Walton singled to short. Suppan then struck out both Affinito and Stassi. In the third inning, Richard got a one out walk, Walton would then ground into a inning ending double play.

Jonathan Joseph pitched three inning and finished strong, he retired the final five hitters he faced. He would give up three hits and one run. His biggest problem was the three wild pitches he threw. Ian Krol came in after and pitched four innings, He would almost cruise through the first two innings, giving up only a single in the fourth. After that a leadoff walk in the sixth, and the two hits in the seventh were all he gave up. He would give up four hits and two runs. He would walk two, one intentionally, and three strike outs.


Game 2 of the double header
at Wisconsin
Rob Gilliam vs Nick Bucci