Wisconsin hangs on for a win in game two
July 17, 2015 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers News Release
GRAND CHUTE, WI - The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers took a 3-0 lead into the final inning of the nightcap of Friday's doubleheader against the Quad Cities River Bandits at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium. Quad Cities loaded the bases with one out, but the Rattlers held on thanks to a diving catch of a line drive by first baseman Alan Sharkey for the final out.
Wisconsin (30-61 overall, 7-14 second half) grabbed the lead with two runs in the first inning. Blake Allemand singled and took second on an error. Dustin DeMuth extended his current hitting streak to ten games with a towering ground rule double to deep right-center field to knock in Allemand. Carlos Leal followed with an RBI single to send DeMuth home for a 2-0 lead.
David Burkhalter made the start for the Timber Rattlers and pitched six scoreless innings. Burkhalter, the sixth round pick of the Milwaukee Brewers in the 2014 draft, allowed four hits, walked one, and struck out one in the longest start of his professional career.
The Timber Rattlers added to their lead in the bottom of the sixth. DeMuth, who went 3-for-3 in game two, singled to start the inning. Sthervin Matos lined a triple to right with one out to drive in DeMuth for the insurance run to put Wisconsin up 3-0.
Quad Cities (58-32, 13-9) rallied in the seventh against reliever Luke Curtis. Jason Martin tripled and Drew Ferguson drew a walk to start the inning. Curtis got the first out on a shallow fly to left field, but walked Alex Hernandez on a 3-2 pitch to load the bases. Garrett Stubbs knocked in Martin and send Ferguson to third with a sacrifice fly to right.
Curtis got ahead of Luis Reynoso with two quick strikes, but the number nine hitter in the River Bandits order lined an 0-2 pitch to right to get Ferguson home and make the score 3-2.
Bobby Boyd was next and he hit a hard, low liner heading to right field on the first pitch he saw. But, Sharkey dove to his right and snared the liner for the third out to preserve the Wisconsin victory. Curtis picked up his second save of the season.
Allemand went 5-for-7 in the doubleheader and DeMuth added four hits over the twinbill.
Burkhalter, who picked up his third win of the season, was aided by Leal, his catcher, throwing out three Quad Cities runners on the bases in the game.
The victory over the River Bandits was the first of the season for Wisconsin in nine tries.
The Timber Rattlers begin a six-game road trip with a game against the Kane County Cougars on Saturday night. Devin Williams (2-6, 3.36) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers. Ethan Elias (9-3 2.52) is set to start for the Cougars at Fifth Third Bank Ballpark. Game time is 6:30pm.
The radio broadcast is 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. Subscribers to MiLB.TV may watch the game on that platform with the Kane County announcing crew.
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Midwest League Stories from July 17, 2015
- Bandits Reach Best Mark, Then Lose 1st to Wisconsin - Quad Cities River Bandits
- Cougars Sweep Double-Header, Series - Kane County Cougars
- Hot Rods Finish Sweep of Loons in 9-2 Rout - Bowling Green Hot Rods
- Chiefs Drop Series Finale 10-2 - Peoria Chiefs
- Wisconsin hangs on for a win in game two - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
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- Whitecaps Earn First Three-Game Sweep of Season in 4-1 Win - West Michigan Whitecaps
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- West Michigan Sweeps Dragons with Early Runs - Dayton Dragons
- Kernels Fall 3-1 in Rubber Game - Cedar Rapids Kernels
- Early Deficit Too Much for Captains - Lake County Captains
- Bandits take game one 4-2 over Rattlers - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
- Celebrate Christmas in July this Weekend at Classic Park - Lake County Captains
- Eventful Snappers Series Starts on Saturday - Beloit Sky Carp
- Captains Begin Six-Game Home Stand Featuring Christmas in July Weekend, Giveaways and Three Firework - Lake County Captains
- Hot Rods Tread on Loons Late - Great Lakes Loons
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