Chiefs charge back to beat Rattlers
June 27, 2006 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers News Release
FOX CITIES STADIUM -- The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers had a 4-1 lead and were one out from victory Tuesday night. But, the Peoria Chiefs took advantage of an error and a wild pitch to score three unearned runs in the ninth inning to tie the game. Ryne Malone, in his Chief debut, doubled in two runs in the top of the tenth with two outs to push the winning runs across the plate.
Wade Miller, on a rehab assignment for the Chicago Cubs, got the start for the Chiefs (45-30 overall, 4-2 second half). The Rattlers greeted him with back-to-back one out singles by Robby Hudson and Luis Valbuena. Johan Limonta drove in Hudson with a sacrifice fly to give Wisconsin a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning.
The score remained 1-0 until Michael Saunders hit his third homer of the year. A two-run blast off Jesse Estrada to rightcenter in the fifth inning was the first Rattler home run since June 12, a span of eleven games. Later in the inning, a two-out RBI double by Valbuena put the Rattlers up 4-0.
Rattler starting pitcher Jose Escalona pitched six scoreless innings and struck out four, but he would not get a decision to break his personal six game losing streak.
Peoria got a run on Kyle Reynolds homer in the seventh inning off Harold Williams to get to within 4-1.
Roman Martinez entered in the top of the ninth to try and close out the Chiefs. He allowed a one out single to Reynolds and a double to pinch hitter Malone in his first Midwest League at bat. Martinez struck out Dylan Johnston for the second out. Then, the Rattler defense made one mistake that cost them dearly.
Davy Gregg sent a roller to first. Jeff Flaig fielded the ball cleanly, but flipped the ball to high for Martinez covering the first base bag and both Reynolds and Malone scored to pull the Chiefs to within 4-3. Robinson Chirinos singled to right and sent Gregg around to third base.
Edgar Guaramato relieved Martinez and on his second pitch uncorked a wild pitch to allow Gregg to score the tying run.
The Rattlers (28-48, 1-5) got a lead off double from Ron Garth in the bottom of the ninth. A sacrifice bunt moved Garth to third with the winning run. The Chiefs walked the next two batters intentionally to load the bases. Scott Koerber entered the game, struck out Saunders, and got Kevin Reynolds to ground into an inning ending force out at second to send the game to the tenth.
It was Malone again in the tenth. He stepped to the plate with two on and two out and lined a double inside the first base bag to score two runs and put the Chiefs up 6-4.
Wisconsin tried to rally in the bottom of the tenth against Chief closer Matt Avery as Valbuena doubled with one out and Garth beat out an infield single with two out. But, Avery got Travis Scott to pop out to end the game.
The Timber Rattlers and the Chiefs end their series Wednesday morning. Wisconsin has Marwin Vega (1-5, 7.28ERA) as the scheduled starting pitcher. Peoria plans on Jesus Yepez (3-3, 3.39ERA) to taking the hill. Game time is 11:35am.
Midwest League Stories from June 27, 2006
- Swing stifle another L-Kings comeback bid - Clinton LumberKings
- Chiefs charge back to beat Rattlers - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
- Wizards pound Lugnuts - Lansing Lugnuts
- Adenhart, Kernels Blank Bees - Burlington Bees
- Big inning lifts Snappers - Beloit Sky Carp
- Fifth inning hurts Lansford, Cougars - Kane County Cougars
- Gabriel catch helps Swing sneak out another - Quad Cities River Bandits
- Starting pitching and hitting lead the way to 8-5 win - Dayton Dragons
- Early lead holds up in Whitecaps win - West Michigan Whitecaps
- Cueto Heads South - Dayton Dragons
- Cunningham Placed on Disabled Lis - Southwest Michigan Devil Rays
- Snappers Lose Second Straight - Beloit Sky Carp
- Quality effort comes up short - Cedar Rapids Kernels
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