Wisconsin Rapids, Wis. – The momentum couldn’t stay in favor of the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters (8-18) Saturday night as they dropped their first game back home 14-4 against the Lakeshore Chinooks (10-17). The Rafters now sit 1.5 games back of the Chinooks in the Great Lakes West standings after the loss. Erik Parker had two hits in the game while Espn Simpson allowed just two runs in 3.2 innings, but the team struggled as a whole.

The Chinooks scored first, adding one in the top of the first on Rafters starter Brennan Cohen (0-2), although they grabbed the lead in the bottom of the first on a throw to catch a runner that ended up in left field.

From there, Lakeshore piled on, taking a 4-2 lead in the top of the second with three more runs off Brennan Cohen. They extended the lead to 8-2 in the top of the fifth on Rafters reliever Alejandro Morales and added four more in the top of the sixth to make it 12-2.

The Rafters claimed one run in the bottom of the sixth, but the Chinooks bit back with a two-run seventh off Wisconsin Rapids reliever Espn Simpson thanks to a homer from Lakeshore’s Brody Rasmussen.

After a couple of scoreless innings from there, the Rafters saw Chris Diaz rip a solo shot in the bottom of the ninth, but with a 14-4 deficit, Dylan Escobar closed it out for the 3.1 inning save (1).

The Rafters will take on the Chinooks again Sunday afternoon for the second game of the series. First pitch will be at 3:05 P.M. and will be broadcast for video on NWL+ and for radio on WFHR 97.5 FM/1320 AM.