Written By: Khalin Kapoor, TV Broadcaster

In a game where the weather played a large factor, the Rafters took down the Minnesota Mud Puppies 8-4 at home for their 18th win of the second half.

Wisconsin Rapids got on the board first with a Jorge DeGoti RBI double and an Orlando Lorduy sacrifice fly to give them a 2-0 lead. But Minnesota would strike right back with three runs in the top of the second.

At that point, the rain was falling steadily, but the game continued on after a brief delay. The Rafters took back the lead in the bottom of the third after Gabe Caso drove home two with a double and then scored on a wild pitch one batter later.

Kelly Crumpton got the start for WR and was shaky through two innings, allowing three earned runs while walking three and ceding two hits. Josh Novak pitched one frame in relief and got the win for his efforts, but he did walk three and allow one run to score.

But after that, it was the Gabe Caso show on the mound. The catcher-by-trade, in his pitching debut, spun three scoreless innings and struck out five Mud Puppies hitters. After lacing that two-run double earlier in the ballgame, Caso shut down the Minnesota bats and got the save.

The driving rain forced the ballgame to be called after six full innings, with the Rafters emerging victorious with some unlikely heroes being thrust into service. Wisconsin Rapids will next host Minnesota on Tuesday in the final game of the series at Witter Field. Khalin Kapoor will have the call on the Northwoods League Sports Network and Andy Jachim will have the call on WHFR Rafters Radio at 6:35.