Wisconsin beats Brainerd

WAUSAU, Wis. - Brent Weaver hit a two-out grand slam and Willy Kesler pitched seven strong innings to lead the Wisconsin Woodchucks to a 6-1 Northwoods League baseball victory over the Brainerd Blue Thunder Wednesday.

Weaver's blast handed Wisconsin a 4-0 lead and helped it snap Brainerd's two-game winning streak. Weaver finished 1-for-4 with two runs and the four RBIs. Jeremy Barnes was 2-3 and Vicente Cafaro was 1-4 with a double and a run for Wisconsin.

In seven innings, Kesler allowed just one run on four hits and one walk. He struck out 10 of the 27 batters he faced. Adam Morrison and Pat Venditte each pitched scoreless innings to preserve the victory, the Woodchucks' 18th of the second half of the season.

Brainerd's Kris Jiggits was tagged with his fifth loss of the season. He allowed six runs, five earned, six hits and three walks. He struck out three, hit one batter and had one wild pitch.

Shortstop Ben Orloff scored Brainerd's lone run. He finished 2-4 and scored in the top of the fourth as he lead off with a single. Patrick Rose scored Orloff on a fielder's choice

Brainerd returns home Thursday for a two-game series with Thunder Bay at Mills Field.

Brainerd 000 100 000 - 1 5 1

Wisconsin 004 002 00x - 6 7 1

Brainerd: Kris Jiggits, Alex Guttosch (7) and Ryan Lipkin. Wisconsin: Willy Kesler, Adam Morrison (8), Pat Venditte and Ben Long. W: Kesler (4-6). L: Jiggitts (3-5).

2B: Wsc-Vicente Cafaro. HR: Wsc-Bret Weaver. SB: Brd-Andy Dirks, Adam Symons; Wsc-Jeremy Barnes, Nick Nordgren. RBI: Brd-Patrick Rose, Wsc-Bret Weaver 4, Nick Nordgren. LOB: Brd 8, Wsc 5. DP: Brd 2.

T: 2:27. A: 1,905.

Records: Brd 12-17, Wis 18-10. Next: Brainerd hosts Thunder Bay at Mills Field 7:05 p.m. Thursday.