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MWL1 Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

Bees Keep Buzzing

August 25, 2009 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers News Release


BURLINGTON, IA - The Burlington Bees erased an early Wisconsin Timber Rattlers lead by scoring in each of the first five innings on their way to a 12-6 win Tuesday night at Community Field. Ryan Wood homered twice and knocked in five runs for the Bees, who won twice on Tuesday over the Rattlers. Burlington also won 2-1 in the conclusion of a suspended game from July 7 and they have grabbed control of the second half Midwest League Western Division Wild Card race.

Wisconsin (57-71 overall, 23-35 second half) collected three consecutive two-out RBI singles in the top of the first inning to take a 3-0 lead. Erik Komatsu, Jose Duran, and Sean McCraw each delivered to give Wisconsin the early advantage. Michael Vass also singled with two outs in the first inning, but McCraw was thrown out at the plate.

The Bees (58-70, 29-29) tied the game quickly. A single and a pair of walks loaded the bases in the bottom of the first. Jose Bonilla sent a grounder to third that should have been the final out with either a force out at third or a throw to first. But, the ball was missed and two runs scored.

In the bottom of the second, Wood blasted a pitch over the left field wall for his first professional home run. That long ball tied the game 3-3.

An error and a home run did in the Rattlers in the bottom of the third inning. A double, a walk, and a sacrifice bunt put runners at second and third with one out for the Bees and set the stage. Jason Morales hit a grounder to third that was missed and allowed Nick Francis, the runner at third, to score and the Bees were in front. Wood followed with his second professional homer, a three-run shot for a 7-3 Burlington lead.

Francis continued the onslaught with a solo homer in the bottom of the fourth inning. Later in the frame an RBI single by Morales pushed Burlington's lead to 9-3.

An RBI double by David Wood in the bottom of the fifth inning made it 10-3 Burlington.

The Rattlers got a pair of runs in the top of the sixth inning off Burlington reliever Riquy Pena. Michael Vass drove in the first run with a double and an RBI single by Derrick McPhearson sent Vass home. In the seventh, a sacrifice fly by Duran got the Rattlers to within 10-6.

The Bees took advantage of a dropped fly ball to start the bottom of the eighth inning. The miscue was the fourth of the night by the Wisconsin defense and allowed Shawn Griffin to take second base. Morales knocked him home with a double and Wood followed with an RBI single for his fifth RBI of the night and a 12-6 lead and close out the scoring on the night.

By winning twice on Tuesday, the Bees picked up 1-1/2 games on their nearest competitors, the Clinton LumberKings. Clinton lost in Cedar Rapids and now trails Burlington by 3-1/2 games. The Rattlers have fallen eight games off the pace set by Burlington.

Wisconsin and Bees continue their series on Wednesday night at Community Field. Trey Watten (5-13, 4.77) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers. Manauris Baez (7-5, 3.68) is set to go for Burlington. Game time is 6:30pm.

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Midwest League Stories from August 25, 2009


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