Franklin’s Walk-Off Grand Slam Wins It in Extras
September 3, 2022 – American Association (AA) – Kane County Cougars News Release
GENEVA, Ill. – With the bases loaded in the bottom of the 11th inning, a grand slam off the bat of Nick Franklin lifted the Kane County Atomic Pork Chops to a dramatic 13-9 victory over the Chicago Dogs on Friday night at Northwestern Medicine Field. It was the fourth and final time this season that the Kane County Cougars took on the “Atomic Pork Chops” identity.
In the top of the 11th inning, Jake Stevenson (1-0) pitched a second straight scoreless frame with two strikeouts to give the Atomic Pork Chops (52-45) a chance to win in the bottom of the 11th. Ernie De La Trinidad started the inning on second base before Sherman Johnson was hit by a pitch and Jimmy Kerrigan singled to load the bases. Then, Franklin crushed a pitch from Shane Barringer (7-7) over the left-field wall to give Kane County a 13-9 victory over Chicago (53-44). The win pulled Kane County back within a game of the Dogs in the American Association East Division standings.
Before the drama in extras, the Atomic Pork Chops were down to their last out in the bottom of the ninth inning. Facing an 8-7 deficit, Kerrigan kept the game alive with an infield single before Franklin drew a walk to put him in scoring position. Then, Rolette poked a single into left-center field to tie the game at eight and send it to extra innings.
In the 10th, the teams traded runs with BJ Lopez driving in the tying run on a sacrifice fly that made it 9-9 before the dramatic 11th frame.
In a back and forth slugfest, the Dogs jumped out to an early lead against Kane County starter Westin Muir. Charlie Tilson led off the ballgame with a home run down the right-field line to make it 1-0. In the top of the second, the Dogs added another run on an RBI single by Connor Kopach that made it 2-0.
In the bottom of the third, the Atomic Pork Chops responded in a big way. Kane County sent 10 men to the plate and scored five runs on six hits in the inning. Johnson started the scoring with an RBI double that made it 2-1. Cornelius Randolph then smacked another double to score Johnson and Ernie De La Trinidad to make it 3-2. Later in the inning, Rolette hit an RBI single and Alexis Pantoja doubled down the right-field line that made it 5-2 Kane County.
Chicago went on to tie the game with a pair of home runs. In the top of the fourth, Grant Kay belted a solo shot to pull the Dogs within two. One inning later, KC Hobson smacked a two-run shot off Atomic Pork Chops’ reliever Jack Anderson to tie the game at five. The Dogs took the lead in the top of sixth on a solo shot by Connor Kopach that made it 6-5.
After four home runs by the Dogs, Kane County responded with a long ball in the bottom of the seventh. Following a walk by Franklin, Rolette crushed a two-run homer to put Kane County ahead 7-6. Chicago went on to take an 8-7 lead in the eighth inning on a two-run single by Ryan Lidge before the Atomic Pork Chops ultimately came back and won it in extras.
The series with the Dogs continues Saturday night at 6:30 p.m. Left-hander Tanner Lawson (1-0, 3.98) will take the hill for the Dogs, while the Cougars’ starter is to be announced. Tomorrow’s game will be Star Wars Night at Northwestern Medicine Field. Additional upcoming promotions include a fireworks night on Sunday, September 4th and free parking on Monday, September 5th. For tickets call 630-232-8811 or visit kccougars.com/tickets.
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