MWL1 Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

Cougars Crush Rattlers Comeback

Published on August 30, 2010 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers News Release


GRAND CHUTE, WI - The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers trailed the Kane County Cougars 4-1 heading to the bottom of the ninth inning at Time Warner Cable Field on Monday afternoon. Wisconsin rallied for two runs and had the bases loaded with no outs, but two key defensive plays by third baseman Leonardo Gil ended the game and gave the Cougars a 4-3 win. The loss knocked the Rattlers to 4-1/2 games behind Kane County in the Midwest League's second half Western Division Wild Card race with just seven games to play.

Kane County (66-65 overall, 34-28 second half) grabbed the early lead with some heads up base running. Anthony Aliotti drew a leadoff walk and took second on a wild pitch. Rayshun Dixon sent a grounder to the hole at short, and Aliotti noticed that no one was covering third base. He took third as Dixon reached on the infield single. Rattlers starting pitcher Hiram Burgos got the second out on a strikeout. But, Tyreace House beat out a potential inning ending double play ball for a fielder's choice and Aliotti scored for a 1-0 lead.

In his last two starts, Burgos had pitched 14 innings without walking a batter. But, the top of the third inning became a very frustrating inning for the Rattlers' starter. Conner Crumbliss drew a one out walk. Burgos got the second out with a strikeout. Then, Gil drew a walk. Then, Aliotti drew a walk to load the bases. Dixon took some borderline pitches that were called balls and drew a bases loaded walk to force in Kane County's second run.

Jason Christian stepped up next and took a strike. But, the next two close pitches were ruled balls. Christian lined the next pitch to right for a two-run single and a 4-0 lead. Before the next Kane County batter could stride to the plate, Rattlers pitching coach Chris Hook was ejected by home plate umpire Rich Gonzales.

Burgos settled in for the rest of the game, but the damage had been done. He pitched 5-1/3 innings, walked six and struck out six.

Wisconsin (56-75, 30-33) struggled against Cougars starting pitcher Rich Straily. The Rattlers did not get their first hit off Straily until the fifth inning. Cameron Garfield doubled to right and took third on an error. Michael Marseco followed with a double to left-center and the Rattlers were on the board.

Straily would give up just one more hit in his time on the mound. Straily allowed one run on three hits and struck out seven over seven innings. He has 152 strikeouts this season and has taken over the lead in that category in the Midwest League.

Kentrail Davis started the comeback attempt for the Rattlers in the bottom of the ninth. He started the inning with a single off the legs of Cougars reliever Connor Hoehn. Hunter Morris was next and he doubled to left-center to put runners at second and third. Khris Davis drew a walk and ball four was a wild pitch that let Kentrail Davis score the second run of the game.

D'Vontrey Richardson almost ended the game on the next pitch. The Rattlers centerfielder lined the first pitch he saw from Hoehn deep to left field. The ball banged off the 16-foot high wall about two feet from the top for a double to score Morris, send Davis around to third base, and make the score 4-3. That ended Hoehn's day.

Ryan Doolittle came out of the Cougars bullpen and intentionally walked designated hitter Chris Dennis. That brought Garfield to the plate and set the stage for Gil.

Garfield sent a chopper to third base. Gil charged the ball and got the force play on Davis at the plate. The relay to first was in time for the 5-2-3 double play. But, Wisconsin still had the tying run at third and the winning run at second base.

Marseco worked the count to 2-2 and sent a line drive that looked like it was headed for the left field corner for a game winning hit. However, Gil made a leaping grab to snare the liner and end the game.

The Rattlers and Cougars play again on Tuesday night at Time Warner Cable Field. Jake Odorizzi (7-3, 3.34) is the scheduled starting pitcher for Wisconsin. It will be his first start since he tossed eight no-hit innings at Cedar Rapids on August 23. Kane County will send Aaron Larsen, a 34th round pick of the Oakland Athletics in the 2010 draft, to the hill for his Midwest League debut. Game time is 6:35pm.

Tuesday night is a WAPL Bang For Your Buck Night with soda, hotdogs, and Miller Beer are available for $1. Additionally, it is a KRAFT Singles Tuesday Night Tickets. Fans who bring in a KRAFT Singles package wrapper and purchase one reserved seat will receive a second reserved seat free.

If you can't make it out to Time Warner Cable Field, you can tune into the broadcast on AM1280, WNAM starting with the Miller Lite Pregame Show at 6:15pm.

Check out the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers Statistics

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Midwest League Stories from August 30, 2010


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