Burlington bops Rattlers with late homer
May 20, 2015 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers News Release
BURLINGTON, IA - Trevor Gretzky's two-run home run in the bottom of the sixth inning snapped a 2-2 tie and gave the Burlington Bees their first lead of the game against the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers Wednesday night at Community Field. The Bees would hang on to beat the Rattlers 4-2 in the third game of the series.
Carlos Leal put the Timber Rattlers (11-29) in front with a two-out, two-run single in the top of the second inning. Dustin DeMuth reached on an error and Sthervin Matos followed with a single. Tucker Neuhaus sacrificed the runners into scoring position with a bunt, but they remained there until the hit by Leal scored them for a 2-0.
The Bees (20-20) scored a run in the bottom of the second. Wade Wass started the inning with a leadoff single. He took third on a grounder and scored on a grounder off the bat of Fran Whitten.
Whitten drove in the tying run in the bottom of the fourth inning. Burlington had runners at second at third after a leadoff walk, a single, and a sacrifice bunt. Whitten's grounder to short took a bad hop for a single to knock in Ryan Seiz from third base and the game was even.
The game remained even until the bottom of the sixth. Wisconsin starter Orlando Torrez had Wass down 0-2 on to start the count to start the inning, but wound up walking the Burlington catcher on 3-2 pitch. Gretzky hit an 0-1 pitch from Torrez over the wall in right for a two-run homer and a 4-2 lead.
Garrett Nuss, Burlington's second pitcher of the night, kept Wisconsin from mounting much of a rally over the final three innings. A leadoff walk to Sthervin Matos in the seventh went nowhere when Brandon Diaz lined into an inning ending double play with Matos at second base. In the ninth, Alan Sharkey singled to start the frame and Dustin DeMuth drew a one-out walk to bring the go-ahead run to the plate. But, Nuss struck out the next two batters to close out the game.
Torrez allowed four runs - three earned - on six hits with four walks and three strikeouts over five innings and was charged with the loss. Gian Rizzo (one inning) and Joshua Torres (two innings) combined for three frames of hitless, scoreless relief out of the Wisconsin bullpen.
The Timber Rattlers offense managed four hits in the game.
The loss snapped Wisconsin's modest two-game losing streak, but the Rattlers still have an opportunity to win the series.
The final game of the four game series is set for Thursday night at Community Field. Devin Williams (0-1, 4.50) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers. Keynan Middleton (1-1, 3.63) is set to start for the Bees. Game time is 6:30pm.
Catch all the action on AM1280, WNAM starting with the Miller Lite Pregame Show at 6:10pm. The broadcast may also be heard on Tune In Radio and IHeartRadio.
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