Wausau, WI – Catcher Dallas Beaver’s tiebreaking home run in the top of the ninth inning was the difference as the Lakeshore Chinooks’ five game losing streak came to an end in a 5-4 victory over the Wisconsin Woodchucks Saturday. The victory is the Chinooks’ first since the All-Star break, and first since the second game of a July 20 doubleheader.
The Chinooks improve to 10-12 in the second half of the Northwoods League season and 26-31 overall. Though a playoff berth isn’t out of the realm of possibility for Lakeshore, they will have to end the season on a tear to climb the South Division standings and finish in position for the postseason.
Two nights after blowing a save, Nick Campe earned the win in relief with two scoreless innings on the mound. Jake Carlsen, making his Chinooks debut, got the save in the bottom of the ninth inning, working around a two-out walk and stolen base.
Beaver finished the game 2-for-3 with a game-tying RBI double in the seventh inning in addition to his go-ahead home run in the ninth. He reached base three times total and raised his batting average to .291 this season.
Right-hander Austin Jones made the start for the Chinooks, and allowed four runs in six innings, earning a no-decision. He allowed five hits and walked four, but struck out eight, a season-high. For the fourth consecutive start, he pitched at least six innings.
After the Woodchucks took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning, the Chinooks took the lead in the top of the fifth. With the bases loaded and one out, Jim Govern scored the Chinooks’ first run on a wild pitch, and Christian Boulware brought two more home with a two-run double.
Wisconsin retook the lead in the bottom of the fifth with two more runs against Jones. Lakeshore got to the Woodchucks’ bullpen, however, as Beaver played hero in the late innings. His 20 runs batted in this season leads the Chinooks.
Lakeshore looks to keep things going in a positive direction when they return home for a two-game home series against the Battle Creek Bombers beginning Monday. First pitch in game one is at 6:35 p.m. as Brandon Komar makes his second start of the season for the Chinooks.
Komar’s first start of the season ended in a loss, but he pitched six innings while only allowing one earned run. He struck out seven. In 3 1/3 innings pitched against Battle Creek this season, all in relief, Komar has allowed one run on four hits and struck out three. Ten of the Chinooks’ final 14 games this season are at Kapco Park.
