Cougars walk off with a win over Rattlers
Published on July 7, 2007 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers News Release
GENEVA, IL -- Christian Vitters drew a bases loaded walk to force in the winning run in the bottom of the ninth and give the Kane County Cougars a 3-2 win over the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers Saturday night at Elfstrom Stadium. That walk ended an odd and contentious bottom of the ninth inning.
The majority of the scoring came in the very first inning.
Wisconsin (8-9 second half, 30-55 overall) loaded the bases with one out in the top of the first. Trevor Lawhorn drew a walk to force in the first run. Joe White's RBI grounder gave the Rattlers a 2-0 lead. But, that was it for the Rattler offense.
Kane County (6-11, 30-56) loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the first. Jermaine Mitchell knocked in a run with a sacrifice fly. An RBI single by Matt Smith tied the game 2-2.
That was the way the score stayed until the bottom of the ninth.
Wisconsin had several chances after the first inning. The leadoff batter reached in the third, fifth, sixth, and seventh innings, but the Rattlers could not get the go ahead run across the plate. Henry Rodriguez, the Cougar starter gave up seven hits and walked three, but did not allow another run over his six innings of work.
In the bottom of the ninth inning, Rattler reliever Shawn Kelley gave up back-to-back-singles to Michael Affronti and Sean Doolittle to start the frame. Haas Pratt was called on to bunt, but Kelley threw to third to force Affronti for out number one. Then, things got weird.
For some reason, Doolittle drifted too far from second base after a 1-1 pitch to Mitchell and got caught in a rundown. It appeared that Doolittle had been either tagged or to have run out of the baseline for out number two. However, base umpire Scott Mahoney ruled Doolittle safe. Rattler manager Jim Horner sprinted from the Wisconsin dugout and was ejected after a brief but intense argument.
Kelley walked Mitchell intentionally to load the bases. Kelley struck out Smith after Mahoney ruled that Smith went to far on a check swing with two strikes. But, Kelley fell behind Vitters 3-1 in the count and missed off the outside corner for ball four to force in the winning run.
Game two of the three game series is Sunday afternoon. Anthony Varvaro (4-7, 5.20) is scheduled to come off the disabled list and be the starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers. Kane County will send James Heuser (6-4, 3.56) to the mound. Game time is 2:00pm
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