For the City Times

Henderson strands winning run on base in the ninth, earns 13th save

WISCONSIN RAPIDS – Pitching was at a premium on Sunday at Simmons Field as Wisconsin Rapids (38-13, 11-4) defeated Kenosha (28-23, 6-10) 2-1 to sweep the series. The Rafters won three games in two days, and improved to 6-0 against the Kingfish this season.

Pitching headlined the first four innings as Wisconsin Rapids starter Quinn DiPasquale (6-1) worked out of two jams to keep the game scoreless through four.

The Rafters jumped on the board in the fifth inning off Kenosha starter Zach Stromberg (3-2). Bryson Stott led off the inning with a single and Jacson McGowan followed with a walk. Jake Guenther drove a single back up the middle to put the Rafters on the board, and Santino Rivera drove a sacrifice fly to right to extend the lead to 2-0 in the fifth.

Kenosha got on the scoreboard in the sixth inning when Derek Bangert took DiPasquale deep on the first pitch he saw in the at-bat to make it a one-run game.

DiPasquale’s day was done after six innings of one-run baseball to earn his sixth win on the season. The Rafters bullpen of Grant Gunderson, Nick Avila, and Cameron Busby held the game 2-1 through eight innings before handing the ball over to closer Layne Henderson in the bottom of the ninth.

After a leadoff walk and a hit by pitch with nobody out, Henderson induced a fielder’s choice, worked a strikeout, and forced Connor Doyle to pop up to right to end the game. Henderson picks up his 13th save in as many tries this year.

The loss is given to Stromberg, as the lefty gave up the Rafters two runs in the fifth. Stromberg went four and a third innings, allowing two hits and three walks.

Wisconsin Rapids heads to Rockford for a two game series to finish the six game road trip post All-Star break First pitch is set for 6:35 p.m.at Rivets Stadium, with pregame coverage starting at 6:20 p.m. on AM 1320 WFHR and WFHR.com, the Rafters Radio Network.