MWL1 Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

A Miserable, Short Night in Beloit

Published on April 8, 2016 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers News Release


BELOIT, WI - The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers had a 4-1 lead over the Beloit Snappers heading into the bottom of the fourth inning at Pohlman Field on Friday night. But, a difficult bottom of the fourth that featured a bank of lights going out to force a delay, a hit batsman, a walk, a wild pitch, five Wisconsin errors, and twelve Beloit batters allowed the Snappers to take the lead on the way to a 9-5 win in a game shortened to five innings by an snowstorm.

The game began under sunny skies, but a 27 mph wind out of the northwest cooled the 37 degree night to just 28. But, Wisconsin (0-2) took the early lead with two runs in the second inning. Jake Gatewood singled and David Denson drew a walk to start the frame and a sacrifice bunt by Sthervin Matos moved both runners into scoring position. Carlos Belonis drove in Gatewood with a single. Troy Stokes, Jr. followed with a hard grounder off the foot of Beloit pitcher Boomer Biegalski. The throw home was in time to get Denson, but the throw was dropped by the catcher for an error and Denson was safe for a 2-0 lead.

Beloit (2-0) had a runner at first with one out in the bottom of the second when Wisconsin starter Marcos Diplan got a grounder back to the mound. However, he couldn't handle the hard grounder cleanly and could only get the out at first base. Steve Pallares made the Rattlers pay with a two-out single to score the runner and cut Wisconsin's lead to a run.

Isan Diaz got that run back in the top of the third with a leadoff home run. The Brewers shortstop prospect launched a high fly down the right field line that stayed just fair for his first Midwest League homer and a 3-1 Wisconsin lead.

The Rattlers added to their lead in the top of the fourth inning and the conditions got worse. Matos reached on an error with one out and took second on a wild pitch. Stokes delivered a two-out single to drive in Matos for a 4-1 advantage.

The game turned as nasty as the weather in the bottom of the fourth. Diplan hit Skye Bolt to start the inning and gave up a single to Nick Collins. Pallares was next and he singled to knock in Bolt and the Rattlers lead was down to two runs. Jesus Lopez was called on to bunt and got it down. The throw to third to get the lead runner was wild and Collins scored as Pallares and Lopez took third and second on the play that knocked Diplan out of the game.

Quintin Torres-Costa came out of the bullpen and threw one pitch to Justin Higley. Then, a bank of lights on the third base side went out forcing a sixteen minute delay. While the lights cooled down to allow them to be turned back on without a problem, the temperatures dropped, the wind turned up in intensity, and snow started to fall.

The first pitch by Torres-Costa after the delay was a wild pitch to allowed Pallares to score the tying run. Higley would walk later in the at bat. Torres-Costa got Tristan Loehr to ground back to the mound, but a wild throw to second base denied the Rattlers a potential double play as Lopez scored to give the Snappers a 5-4 lead.

Ryan Howell kept the assault going with an RBI double that scored Higley and sent Loehr around to third. Chris Iriart's sacrifice fly to right-center was deep enough to score Loehr, but a poor throw from the outfield allowed Howell to advance to third.

The Wisconsin infield was in with Howell at third and Brett Siddall at the plate. A hot shot to Diaz at short was scored a hit for Siddall, but Neuhaus had ranged over from second to field the ball and had time to come home with a throw through the snowflakes, but it was wild and Howell scored on the play.

Bolt - with Beloit now up 8-4 - bunted for a hit. Torres-Costa got to the ball in time, but overran it for Wisconsin's fifth and final error of the inning. No damage followed this error as the next two batters were retired.

Diaz started the Wisconsin fifth with a single. He stole third with one out, but was caught trying to steal third;. Then, the Rattlers loaded the bases on a single by Tucker Neuhaus, an error by Loehr, and a walk to Denson. Matos struck out on a pitch in the dirt, but the ball got away to allow Neuhaus to score and the Rattlers were down three with the lead run at the plate. But, Beloit got the final out on a ground out.

The snowfall increased between the top and bottom of the fifth, but the game continued with Freddy Peralta making his Timber Rattlers debut in relief of Torres-Costa. Peralta quickly recorded the first two outs, but a bloop single by Loehr, and infield single by Howell, and a bloop double by Iriart plated another Snappers run for a 9-5 lead before Peralta got the final out.

The Snappers took the field to start the top of the sixth inning, but a conference between the managers and the umpires in the worsening conditions forced a halt in play due to visibility concerns. The game was not restarted.

The Timber Rattlers return to Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium on Saturday afternoon for their 2016 Home Opener. The opponents are the Beloit Snappers and game time is 4:05pm.

Every fan to attend the 2016 Home Opener will receive a special double bobblehead that features Timber Rattlers mascots Fang and Whiffer courtesy of Dairy Queen and Pepsi. Before the game Green Bay Phoenix head coach Linc Darner will toss a ceremonial first pitch to celebrate his team's Horizon League Tournament Championship and NCAA tournament appearance. After the game, children 12 and under may run the bases courtesy of Tundraland.

There will also be a magnet schedule for the 2016 Timber Rattlers season made possible by Neuroscience Group given away at this game.

Jon Perrin is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers. Beloit will counter with James Naile as their starter.

If you can't make it out to the game, there are several ways to follow the action. The radio broadcast is available on 1280-AM, WNAM starting with the pre-game show at 3:45pm. The game is also on the internet with IHeartRadio and TuneIn Radio. Subscribers to MiLB.TV can watch the game, too.

Check out the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers Statistics

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Midwest League Stories from April 8, 2016


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