Devil Rays give the Rattlers heck
July 4, 2006 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers News Release
BATTLE CREEK, MI -- The Southwest Michigan Devil Rays beat the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers 10-4 Tuesday night at C.O. Brown Stadium. Colt Simmons, Cesar Suarez, and Jackson Brennan each drove in two runs for the Devil Ray offense. Wade Davis struck out nine over 6-2/3 innings to break a personal five game losing streak. Wisconsin has lost six straight games.
Wisconsin (29-54 overall, 2-11 second half) loaded the bases with one out against Davis in the top of the first. A sacrifice fly by Michael Saunders drove in the first run of the game.
Rattler starter Paul Fagan retired the first two batters of the bottom of the first, but gave up a single and a walk to put a couple of runners on base. Simmons tied the game with an RBI single.
Simmons struck again with another two-out RBI single in the bottom of the third inning to put Southwest Michigan up 2-1.
The Devil Rays (37-45, 5-8) extended their lead with a three run fourth inning. Brennan knocked in the first run with a sacrifice fly. Suarez and Garrett Groce each came through with two-out RBI hits for a 5-1 advantage.
Wisconsin scrambled back to within a run in the top of the fifth. Robby Hudson drove in a pair of runs with a triple. An RBI grounder by Ron Garth made it 5-4.
But, the Devil Rays pulled away in the bottom of the fifth. Rattler relief pitcher Justin Ockerman issued a walk and gave up a pair of singles to load the bases with no outs. A walk to Neil Walton forced in a run and was also the last batter Ockerman faced.
Roman Martinez relieved and did not have much better luck. He almost immediately threw a wild pitch that allowed a run to score. Brennan had another sac fly to push another run home. Suarez drove in the final run of the inning with a single for a 9-4 lead for the Rays.
Southwest Michigan added one more run in the bottom of the seventh inning when Chris Cunningham scored from third after a wild pitch by Edgar Guaramato.
Game three of the series is Wednesday night. Nick Allen (4-3, 2.89ERA) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers. Mike Wlodarczyk (6-6, 2.99) is scheduled to start for the Devil Rays. Game time is 6:05pm CDT.
Midwest League Stories from July 4, 2006
- Rays defeat Rattlers 10-4 - Southwest Michigan Devil Rays
- Kernels trample Bees, 13-5 - Cedar Rapids Kernels
- Bees singing big inning blues - Burlington Bees
- Cougars light fireworks against Dayton - Kane County Cougars
- Devil Rays give the Rattlers heck - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
- Lugnuts lose third straight - Lansing Lugnuts
- Dayton bullpen gives up five in the seventh , lose 12-4 - Dayton Dragons
- Evans puts Hawks back in win column - South Bend Silver Hawks
- Homers lead way to sixth straight Whitecaps win - West Michigan Whitecaps
- Swing go bombs away in fourth of July win - Quad Cities River Bandits
- Chiefs drop LumberKings 6-2 - Peoria Chiefs
- Mendoza named MWL Pitcher of the Week - Cedar Rapids Kernels
- Cunningham Returns from D.L. - Southwest Michigan Devil Rays
- Whitecaps Surge Past Lansing - Lansing Lugnuts
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