MWL1 Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

Clutch home run not enough for Rattlers

Published on July 3, 2006 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers News Release


BATTLE CREEK, MI -- For the second game in a row, the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers got a clutch ninth-inning home run, but their opponents rallied for a walk-off win. On Sunday, it was a single by Cory Middleton of the West Michigan Whitecaps in the bottom of the tenth. On Monday, it was a two-out, two-run double by Cesar Suarez of the Southwest Michigan Devil Rays who broke the Rattlers for a 5-4 win. Suarez drove in three runs in the game and all five of the Devil Ray runs scored after there were two outs.

Robby Hudson gave the Rattlers (29-53 overall, 2-10 second half) a 1-0 lead on a sacrifice fly in the top of the third inning.

The Devil Rays (36-45, 4-8) took their first lead of the game with a two-out, two-run single by Alex Jamieson in the bottom of the third.

Alex Gary drilled a lead off homer in the top of the fourth inning to tie the game. Gary has homered in two straight games and has a hit in ten straight.

Southwest Michigan retook the lead with another two-out hit. Suarez singled in Jackson Brennan with a single in the bottom of the fifth inning to make it 3-2 Devil Rays.

The score stayed that way until the top of the ninth inning. Devil Ray reliever Aaron Walker retired the first batter. The second batter of the inning, Jeff Flaig, sent a pop up to shallow rightcenter that was dropped for an error. Eddy Hernandez drove a 1-0 pitch from Walker over the wall in rightcenter for his first homer of the season and a 4-3 Rattler lead.

But, it was not to be.

Rattler reliever Austin Bibens-Dirkx, in his first save opportunity, gave up a pair of one out singles to put the tying and winning runs on base. Bibens-Dirkx got the second out, but needed to get Suarez to nail down the Rattler win. However, Suarez hammered the first pitch he saw to the wall in center. Both runners scored and the Devil Rays sent the Rattlers to their fifth straight defeat.

Game two of the series is Tuesday night. Paul Fagan (3-9, 4.35ERA) is the scheduled starter for the Rattlers. Wade Davis (4-6, 2.60ERA) is slated to start for the Devil Rays. Game time is 6:35pm CDT.

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Midwest League Stories from July 3, 2006


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