Wausau, Wisconsin – In the second game of the doubleheader, it was a familiar story for the Chinooks against the Woodchucks. Another close game between the two teams was in a pitcher’s duel. Matt Milner took the mound for the Woodchucks, while Tommy Lamb started for the Chinooks. Both starters looked dominant throughout the shortened seven-inning game. There was no score in the first three innings as neither offense couldn’t get anything going against the starting pitchers. Zach Storbakken had the only hit for the Chinooks through the first 3 innings. JC Ng hit a single for the Chinooks to break up Lamb’s no-hit attempt.
The Chinooks got their only run of the night in the 4th inning. Matt Deprey led off the offense with a hit-by-pitch. Stephen Hrustich followed up with a single to center field. The Woodchucks sloppy defense cost them as they had two errors after the Hrustich single. The errors led to Deprey scoring all the way from 1st base. The only run Milner gave up was an unearned run. Lamb shut down the Woodchucks hitter through the first four innings. In the bottom of the 5th, the Woodchucks got Lamb out of his rhythm.
Zach Kluvers and Maurice Gomez reached base on back-to-back walks. JC Ng hit his second single of the game to drive in Kluvers and tie the game 1-1. Lamb lost some of his control as Chase Hug got hit by a pitch. A crazy play happened as Tyler Cox basically had a swinging bunt infield single that scored Gomez and Ng. The Chinooks thought they got Cox out at 1st base, but the umpire ruled him safe. The heads-up base running during the play allowed Gomez and Ng to both score. In his 4.2 innings pitched, Labme gave up 3 earned runs and got his season-high of 8 strikeouts.
Matt Milner was the star of the game. He threw all 7 innings for the Woodchucks as the bullpen got the night off in the shortened game. Milner only gave up 3 hits with the unearned run. Not known as a strikeout pitcher, Milner blew past his previous season-high of 2 strikeouts. 9 strikeouts on the mound helped give the Woodchucks the win and the doubleheader sweep.
The Chinooks are exactly .500 with 6 games left in the season. Their overall record is down to 33-33 while their second-half record is 15-15. They look to win the final game of the series against the Woodchucks Tuesday night in Wausau. First pitch is set for 6:35pm at Athletic Park.
