Wausau Woodchucks’ comeback attempt falls short in loss to Green Bay

For Wausau Pilot & Review

GREEN BAY – The Wausau Woodchucks had their six-game winning streak snapped, falling to the Green Bay Rockets 8-6 on Sunday afternoon at Capital Credit Union Park.

The Woodchucks, who finish their six-game road trip with a 5-1 mark, fall to 35-10 overall and 9-2 in the second half of the Northwoods League season.

The Chucks fell into trouble early as they surrendered five runs in the first two innings. The first inning saw started Edwin Alicea (Nova Southeastern) allow two runs on two walks and two hits. In the third he gave up a two-run homer and finished the inning allowing three runs total and Wausau trailed 5-0.

The Chucks would allow another run in the third and weren’t able to conjure any of their own in the fourth or fifth. After a scoreless fourth, Alicea gave up two singles to start the fifth. He would surrender another run and the Chucks trailed 7-0 after five innings.

Wausau broke the scoreless drought in the sixth after Colin Bruggemann (Oklahoma St.) doubled to right field and Bryce Hubbard (Georgia) hit his sixth home run of the season. He was tied with Max Soliz Jr. (Auburn) and Max Galvin (Miami) on the Chucks home run leaderboard with six.

With a five-run deficit heading to the bottom of the sixth, Ben Lee (UW Whitewater) came in for his second appearance, having last pitched exactly a week ago. He had an easy inning of work, as he retired all three batters with one strikeout.

Jake Berkland (Mankato St.) started a two-out rally for the Woodchucks by walking in the seventh. Isaac Webb (Texas A&M Corpus-Christi) and Edian Espinal (Central Florida) were able to reach to load the bases for Galvin. The Rockers brought in a new pitcher, but it wouldn’t matter as Galvin become the top home run hitter for the team once again as he launched a grand slam to right field. His seventh homer is the Chucks second grand slam this week and Galvin’s third in Green Bay this season.

Lee allowed a solo shot in the bottom half of the seventh and struggled to locate. He loaded the bases and David Morrissey (Eastern Florida St. College) came in and retired one batter to escape the inning.

The Chucks went down in order in the ninth to end the game.

The Woodchucks will finish the series with Green Bay on Monday as it will be 715 day at Athletic Park. Enjoy $7.15 seats in Section 207 to celebrate the state’s best area code as the Chucks will play at home for the first time in over a week. Game time is 6:35 p.m.