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 Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

Diaz Dominates in Wisconsin's Walkoff Win

July 23, 2016 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers News Release


GRAND CHUTE, WI - Isan Diaz saved the day for the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers. The Lake County Captains scored four runs in the top of the ninth inning to take and 8-7 lead, but Diaz hit a two-run walkoff home run in the bottom of the ninth to propel the Rattlers to a 9-8 victory on Saturday night at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium. Diaz had two homers, a triple, and six RBI in the game for Wisconsin.

Lake County (51-47 overall, 11-17 second half) scored first when David Armendariz hit a two-run homer in the top of the second inning.

Wisconsin (50-49, 16-13) responded in the bottom of the second inning. Luis Aviles hit a high fly ball to left that bounced off the very top of the wall and over for a solo homer and the Rattlers were down 2-1.

The teams traded runs in the third inning. Nathan Lukes knocked in a run for the Captains with a two-out double in the top of the inning. Troy Stokes, Jr. doubled with one out in the bottom of the frame and scored on a two-out triple by Diaz and Wisconsin was within 3-2.

The Timber Rattlers charged to the lead with five runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. Carlos Belonis and Stokes started the inning with bunt singles. Domingo Santana, who is on a Major League rehabilitation assignment from the Milwaukee Brewers, lined a single to left to score Belonis with the tying run. Diaz was next and he cracked a three-run home run to left and the Rattlers were up 6-3. The homer was the fourteenth of the season for Diaz.

Aviles stepped in with two outs in the fifth and sent a high popup to left-center that the outfielders lost. Both came in towards the infield and the ball landed on the warning track. Aviles raced around the bases for his an inside-the-park homer and a 7-3 lead.

The Captains scored a run in the top of the eighth inning to cut into the deficit. Lukes doubled to start the inning and Connor Marabell followed with a double to make it 7-4.

Lake County went in front with a four-run ninth inning. The frame started with a hit batsman and a double off reliever Quintin Torres-Costa. Sam Haggerty knocked in the first run of the inning with a sacrifice fly and Torres-Costa got the second out of the inning on a strikeout. But, he walked Martin Cervenka, who was 3-for-4 on the night, to extend the inning and bring closer Nate Griep into the game.

However, Griep walked the first batter he faced to load the bases. Armendariz jumped on the first pitch of his at bat and ripped a double into the corner in left to score all three runners and the Captains were up 8-7. Alex Farina had to come in to get the final out of the ninth after Griep walked the third batter he faced in the inning.

Stokes started the game-winning rally with a leadoff single in the bottom of the ninth against Devon Stewart, who had retired the Rattlers in order in the eighth. Stokes had three hits for the second straight game and is 9-for-21 in the first four games of this homestand. Stewart for the first out of the inning with a strikeout, but fell behind Diaz 3-0.

Diaz had the green light and made the most of it as he lined that 3-0 pitch into the Lake County bullpen to the left of the batters' eye in centerfield for a walkoff homer.

Diaz leads the Midwest League in homers with fifteen and he is now the league leader in RBI with 62 this season. He is on a seven-game hitting streak and is 16-for-30 during that stretch.

The win was the fourth in a row for the Timber Rattlers and pushed their overall record past the .500 mark for the first time since the end of the 2014 season.

Game two of the series is scheduled for Sunday afternoon. Thomas Jankins (0-1, 8.44) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers. Matt Esparza (8-6, 3.09) is set to start for the Captains. Game time is 1:05pm.

Sunday is also game two of the rehabilitation assignment for Santana.

The first 1,000 fans to attend Sunday's game will receive a bobblehead of Orlando Arcia, the top prospect in the Milwaukee Brewers organization who played for the Timber Rattlers in 2013, courtesy of U.S. Cellular. Wyatt from the PBS Kids' show Super WHY will be at the game to meet with his fans. During the game, Timber Rattlers players and coaches will be wearing their Brewers Sunday jerseys. Players will be available for a postgame autograph session sponsored by Tundraland.

If you can't make it out to the ballpark, the radio broadcast is on 1280 AM, WNAM starting with the pregame show at 12:45pm. The game is also available on the internet through IHeartRadio, TuneIn, and MiLB.TV.

R H E LC 021 000 014 - 8 11 1 WIS 011 050 002 - 9 12 1 1 OUT, 0 LOB when winning run scored

Click here for Saturday's Boxscore

HOME RUNS: LC: David Armendariz (1st, 1 on in 2nd inning off Trey Supak, 1 out)

WIS: Luis Aviles (6th, 0 on in 2nd inning off Jared Robinson, 1 out) Isan Diaz (14th, 2 on in 5th inning off Jared Robinson, 0 out) Luis Aviles (7th, 0 on in 5th inning off Jared Robinson [inside the park], 2 out) Isan Diaz (15th, 1 on in 9th inning off Devon Stewart, 1 out)

WP: Alex Farina (4-2) LP: Devon Stewart (0-1)

TIME: 3:29 (:22 delay) ATTN: 4,156 _


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