Extra tough loss for the Rattlers
August 30, 2006 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers News Release
PEORIA, IL -- Yusuf Carter's infield single in the bottom of the eleventh inning gave the Peoria Chiefs an 8-7 victory over the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers at O'Brien Field. Stan Posluszny drove in three runs for Wisconsin. Carter had a pair of hits and a pair of RBI for the Chiefs.
Rattler starting pitcher David Asher got into trouble in the bottom of the first inning. After retiring the first batter, he issued a walk and gave up back-to-back singles to load the bases. But, Asher got out of the frame with a pair of strikeouts.
Wisconsin's bats responded with three runs in the top of the second inning. Posluszny doubled off the right field wall with two outs to drive in a pair of runs. Later in the inning, Posluszny stole home on the back end of a double steal.
But, Robinson Chirinos tied the game with a long, three-run home run in the bottom of the second.
The Rattlers (51-84 overall, 24-41 second half) rolled right back at the Chiefs with three more runs in the top of the third inning. Eddy Hernandez drove in the first run of the frame with a double. Jeff Flaig was next and made it 5-0 with an RBI single. Alex Liddi capped the scoring in the inning with a sacrifice fly.
Peoria (72-62, 31-34) loaded the bases against Asher in the bottom of the fourth inning, but only scored one run. That run came home when Alberto Garcia grounded into a 6-4-3 double play. Asher got a strikeout for the final out of the inning.
Posluszny drove in his third run of the game with a sacrifice fly in the top of the fifth inning to give the Rattlers a 7-4 advantage.
That run kept the Rattlers in front as Peoria scored twice in the bottom of the fifth. An RBI double by Carter drove in the first run. Carter scored later in the inning on an error.
Wisconsin had a chance to add to their lead in the top of the seventh. Curt Ledbetter singled and Jeff Flaig doubled to put runners on second and third with no outs against Peoria reliever Justin Rayborn. But, Rayborn got out of the inning with a strikeout, a grounder to first, and another strikeout.
The Chiefs got the lead off man aboard in the bottom of the seventh, but reliever John Sullivan, who pitched a scoreless sixth, got out of the inning with that 7-6 lead still intact.
Peoria had a chance again in the bottom of the eighth. Davy Gregg doubled with one out off reliever Lance Beus. Edgar Guaramato entered the game and threw a wild pitch that allowed Gregg to get to third with the tying run. Guaramato got a strikeout for out number two in the inning, but walked Alberto Garcia to put the go ahead run on base. Then, Guaramato got out of the inning with a groundout and Wisconsin still held on to that 7-6 lead.
In the bottom of the ninth inning, Rattler closer Brian Kappel hit Valerio Heredia, the first batter of the inning. Heredia stole second on a close play to get in to scoring position, but Kappel struck out pinch-hitter Jake Whitesides for the first out.
However, the Rattler luck could not hold forever. Kyle Reynolds singled sharply through the right side of the infield and Heredia raced home with they tying run. Then, Reynolds stole second and went to third on a throwing error. But, Kappel struck out the final two batters of the inning to send the game to extra innings tied 7-7. This was the first blown save of the season for Kappel after he had been 7-for-7 in save opportunities since joining the club.
The Rattler eleventh began with Minaker reaching when second baseman Jake Whitesides booted a grounder for an error, but the Rattlers couldn't cash in on the fourth Chief miscue of the night.
The Chief half of the eleventh began with Jesus Valdez popping out to first against reliever Ruben Flores, but Curt Ledbetter dropped the ball to put the winning run on board. A sacrifice bunt moved Valdez to second and a single by Whitesides moved Valdez to third. Wisconsin walked Reynolds intentionally to load the bases to bring Carter to the plate.
Carter hit a slow dribbler past the mound towards short. Minaker, who was playing in, charged, made a bare-handed pick up of the ball, and flipped it to the plate, but Valdez just beat the throw and the Chiefs got the win.
The Rattlers and Chiefs wrap up their four game series on Thursday night. Roman Martinez (2-6, 3.56ERA) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers. Todd Blackford (9-9, 5.53ERA) is the scheudled starter for the Chiefs. Game time is 7:00pm.
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