Mequon, Wis. – The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters (7-9) win streak ran to three games after they took down the Lakeshore Chinooks (4-12) Tuesday night 12-9. While a pitcher’s duel out the gates, the Rafters controlled the game past the third inning thanks to strong pitching and the bats breaking out. They saw five innings from starter Noah Marschke (1-0) and six players with multi-hit games.
Jack Hagen (0-1) started strong for the Chinooks, facing the minimum through three innings while Wisconsin Rapids’ Marschke allowed just one run in the third inning on an RBI single from Beckett Zavorek.
In the fourth, the game turned on its heel with the Rafters exploding for six runs to make it 6-1. It started with Madden Ocko’s RBI double, Erik Parker’s RBI single and Matthew Pinal’s two-RBI double off Lakeshore’s Hagen before Aaron Robinson relieved him. The Rafters then saw Chris Diaz slap an RBI triple and Nick Adrian collect an RBI single when Robinson finally worked out of the inning.
The Chinooks didn’t give up though, adding a pair of runs in the bottom of the inning and cutting the lead to 6-3 when Nate Gray drew a bases-loaded walk and Dylan Sayles an RBI hit-by-pitch from Rafters’ Marschke.
The Rafters added two more runs in the top of the fifth when Hiroto Kobayashi had an RBI single and Chris Diaz a sacrifice fly off Lakeshore’s Robinson, extending the lead to 8-3.
Still, the Chinooks wouldn’t go away, reducing the lead to 8-5 on Jacob Kowes’ two-run shot off Wisconsin Rapids’ Marschke.
The Rafters really took charge in the top of the sixth, scoring four more runs on new Chinooks reliever Bobby Perebzak. Noah Ruiz added his Northwoods League-leading 20th RBI of the season on a single, then Parker picked up an RBI single, Pinal an RBI double and Kobayashi an RBI double to make it 12-5.
Espn Simpson relieved Noah Marschke for the Rafters at the outset of the bottom of the sixth, and he had a shutout inning before Jack O’Brasky went one, two, three in the seventh.
Brent Gallegos relieved O’Brasky in the eighth and the Chinooks scored four, cutting the lead to 12-9. Sayles had an RBI single, Zavorek an RBI double, and Dominic Kibler a two-RBI single off Gallegos.
The Rafters offense threatened in the ninth, but with no runs coming across, they turned to Ashton Poole in the bottom of the inning to close it out. After allowing a leadoff single, he induced a double play before retiring Drew Reynolds to end the game and earn the save (1).
Next up, the Rafters will have an off day on Wednesday before hitting the road again for Wausau on Thursday. The Rafters remain in fifth in the Great Lakes West, but are closing the gap, just two and a half games back of first place in the subdivision. First pitch at Wausau on Thursday will be at 6:35pm and the game will be broadcast for video on NWL+ and for radio on WFHR 97.5 FM/1320 AM.