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Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

Rattlers miss opportunities and fall in West Michigan

April 8, 2014 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers News Release


COMSTOCK PARK, MI - The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers had many opportunities to score on Tuesday night at Fifth Third Ballpark against the West Michigan Whitecaps. But, the Rattlers could not get the hit to break the game in their favor as the Caps picked up a 3-2 victory in their home opener.

The teams traded runs in the first inning. Omar Garcia singled, stole second, and took third on a throwing error in the Rattlers half of the inning. Michael Ratterree drove in Garcia with a sacrifice fly.

The Whitecaps (3-2) answered with a run in the bottom of the first. They had runners at first and third with two outs. Ben Verlander lined a single through the middle of the diamond to drive in the tying run.

West Michigan starting pitcher Jeff Thompson struck out six and pitched around three walks to keep the Rattlers off the scoreboard for the rest of his 3-1/3 innings.

Rattlers starter Zach Quintana also kept the Whitecaps off the scoreboard for the rest of his start. Quintana allowed four hits over four innings and left with a the score still even.

Garcia doubled, his third hit of the game, to start the top of the fifth off reliever Julio Felix. Then, Ratterree drew a walk to put two on with no outs. But, Felix escaped with a strikeout and a 6-4-3 double play.

Tyler Linehan came on to pitch for the Rattlers (2-3) in the bottom of the sixth and got into trouble with one out. An error, an infield single, and a walk loaded the bases. Dominic Ficociello drove in the go ahead run with a single to center. Verlander made the score 3-1 in favor of West Michigan with a sacrifice fly.

The Rattlers put the first two runners on base again in the top of the seventh inning. But, a strikeout, a caught stealing, and a ground out to third prevented Wisconsin from scoring in the seventh.

West Michigan held a 3-1 lead heading to the ninth inning when they brought hard-throwing Montreal Robertson in to close the game. Chris McFarland started the inning with an infield single. A four-pitch walk to Angel Ortega put the tying runs aboard.

Johnny Davis was next and he tried to bunt both runners into scoring position. Davis wound up beating the throw to first base for a hit and the Rattlers had the bases loaded with no outs and their 2-3-4 hitters coming to the plate.

Robertson got Garcia to send a weak grounder back to the mound and threw to the plate to force McFarland for the first out. Ratterree coaxed a walk on a 3-2 pitch for drive in Ortega and cut West Michigan's lead to one run. Taylor Brennan popped up an 0-2 pitch to third for the second out. Robertson got the final out by getting Clint Coulter to ground into a force play at second base.

Wisconsin stranded twelve runners in the game. They went 1-for-15 with runners in scoring position. The only hit the Rattlers had with runners in scoring position in the game was the bunt single by Davis in the ninth.

Game two of the series is set for Wednesday evening. Lefty Tyler Alexander is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Rattlers. West Michigan's Kevin Ziomek is set to go for the Whitecaps. Game time is 5:35pm CDT.

Tune into the broadcast on AM1280, WNAM starting with the pregame show at 5:15pm. Wednesday's game is available on IHeartRadio and MiLB.tv.

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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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