Green Bay, Wis. – The Kingfish did it once again Friday night, utilizing late inning heroics to propel them to a 5-2 victory over the Green Bay Bullfrogs. The team is now just one half-game back of the Wisconsin Woodchucks for the final playoff spot in the South Division with two games remaining in the regular season.
Having struggled all night against tough Green Bay pitching, Kenosha entered the ninth having tallied no runs and just three hits. Things started off well when 3B Alex Borglin turned the first pitch of the inning into a single. A CF Taylor Douglas double would later advance him to third with one out. With two outs 2B Chris Godinez was hit by a pitch for the 23rd time this season, the highest mark in the NWL. That brought up NWL All-Star LF Pat Porter. To the dish with the bases loaded. After working the count to full, Porter produced the biggest hit of the season for Duffy Dyer's club as he pulled a triple down the right-field line. The three RBI would help him reclaim the NWL RBI lead at 60 on the year.
Reliever Brett Shimanovsky entered the eighth with a 3-2 lead and recorded a quick out before handing the ball to RP Justin Peters. The righty from Texas took care of Green Bay cleanup hitter Ryan Howell, making way for RP Coley Thompkins. Thompkins fanned two on his way to recording a four-out save for Kenosha, his fourth of the year. Starter Rex Morrow (6 IP, 2 R) put together another quality start for the Kingfish, lowering his season ERA to 3.40 in the process.
At the plate the key was undoubtedly timely hitting. In addition to Porter's triple, C CJ Saylor notched a three-bagger of his own in the ninth to push the Kingfish ahead 5-2. Also performing well was Alex Borglin, who scored twice while reaching on a hit and a walk.
The Kingfish, now 39-30 overall, find themselves a half game back of the 40-30 Wisconsin Woodchucks. Each team has two contests remaining in the battle for a spot in the postseason, with both teams' taking place on Saturday and Sunday. Kenosha welcomes the Battle Creek Bombers to historic Simmons Field. The Woodchucks meanwhile will visit Thunder Bay twice to close things out. Two Kingfish wins combined with one Wisconsin loss would send The Fish to the playoffs in their inaugural season.
The Kingfish return to Kenosha on Saturday for the final two games of the home season. The series will be against the Battle Creek Bombers with Saturday’s game at 6:05 p.m. and Sunday’s at 5:05 p.m. Both games will be CCB Fan Appreciation Nights, Saturday night will have light up batons and Sunday will include rally towels.
As the Kingfish continue their quest for a playoff berth, playoff tickets are on sale now. For further information regarding playoff scheduling and ticket pricing, please log on to kingfishbaseball.com or call 262.653.0900.
