Bees Pick Off Rattlers
July 6, 2009 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers News Release
BURLINGTON, IA - The Burlington Bees defeated the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers 4-2 Monday night at Community Field. Tim Melville matched his professional career high for strikeouts with seven over six innings and Eric Hosmer homered and drove in a pair of runs to pace the offense. Wisconsin had opportunities, but had three runners picked off first base -- including one in both the eighth and ninth innings.
Hosmer put the Bees (34-47 overall, 5-6 second half) in front with a two-out solo homer in the first inning.
Wisconsin (41-40, 7-4) tied the game with an unearned run in the top of the second. Corey Kemp drew a one out walk and made it to third when shortstop Juan Rivera couldn't handle a Brock Kjeldgaard grounder. Martin Maldonado, who joined the Timber Rattlers earlier on Monday, drove in Kemp with a sacrifice fly.
The Rattlers took the lead in the top of the third. Peter Fatse, a 24th round pick of the Brewers in the 2009 draft, hit his first professional homer to give Wisconsin a 2-1 advantage.
In the top of the fourth inning, Kjledgaard walked with one out, but was called out close play after a pickoff throw by Melville.
The Bees rallied for a run in the bottom of the fourth inning. Jason Taylor doubled with one out. David Wood followed with an RBI single to tie the game 2-2.
Burlington strung together four consecutive hits in the bottom of the fifth inning against Rattlers reliever Rigberto Almonte to take the lead. Marc Maddox and Nick Van Stratten started the inning with back-to-back singles. Hosmer followed with a single that drove in Maddox for the 3-2 lead. Nick Francis followed with a single, but right fielder Juan Sanchez threw out Van Stratten at the plate to keep the deficit at one run.
Wisconsin got the tying run aboard in the top of the eighth inning as Michael Marseco drew a one out walk against reliever Blaine Hardy. But, Hardy picked Marseco off first base and got Juan Sanchez to line out to second to end the inning.
The Bees tacked on an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth. They loaded the bases with no outs against Evan Frederickson and scored on a sacrifice fly by Jose Bonilla.
Fatse drew a leadoff walk in the top of the ninth inning. But, Hardy picked him off. Lorenzo Cain drew another walk to bring the tying run to the plate. Brett Lawrie set a deep fly to center that hung up long enough for Patrick Norris to chase down on the warning track. Hardy got Kemp to ground out to end the game for his second save.
The Rattlers wrap up their brief road trip to Iowa on Tuesday night. Dan Merklinger (2-2, 3.09) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Wisconsin. Mike Lehmann (3-3, 4.02) is set to go for the Bees. Game time is 6:30pm.
Midwest League Stories from July 6, 2009
- Kings Squander Comeback Chances - Clinton LumberKings
- Heartbreak Hotel: Bandits Lose In 11 - Quad Cities River Bandits
- Cougars Roll, Figueroa Wins His 10th - Kane County Cougars
- Harrison's Four-Hit Performance Highlights Chiefs 7-2 Win - Peoria Chiefs
- Cuotto, Lugnuts Down Silver Hawks, 5-3 - Lansing Lugnuts
- Castro, TinCaps Shut Down Loons, 6-2 - Fort Wayne TinCaps
- Melville and Hardy Combine To Allow Just Three Hits in Win - Burlington Bees
- Loons Drop Third Straight - Great Lakes Loons
- Dragons Burn Whitecaps In Ninth - West Michigan Whitecaps
- Bees Pick Off Rattlers - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
- Dragons Score Three in Ninth, Win 4-2 - Dayton Dragons
- Hawks Come Up Short on Monday - South Bend Silver Hawks
- Lobaton Makes Odd Debut With San Diego - Fort Wayne TinCaps
- Good Charlotte to Perform at Parkview Field - Fort Wayne TinCaps
- Former Loons Named to Futures Game - Great Lakes Loons
- Dragons GameDay - Dayton Dragons
- Chiefs Add Former Wisconsin Pitcher Austin Bibens-Dirkx - Peoria Chiefs
- Meet Them In St. Louis - Kane County Cougars
- Whitecaps sweep MWL Player and Pitcher of the Week Honors - West Michigan Whitecaps
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
