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Beloit Sky Carp

Gonzales Walk-Off Win in Extras to Snap Losing Streak

August 5, 2011 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Beloit Sky Carp News Release


BELOIT, WI- It took twelve innings, but the Snappers finally broke their five-game losing streak off the bat of Michael Gonzales, whose RBI double scored Lance Ray and gave the Snappers the 4-3 win. The Pohlman Field crowd of 2,131 went crazy and was sent home happy after an exciting game and the Snappers 10th fireworks show of the season.

This game would start out quick as both starting pitchers dominated for four innings. Beloit starter B.J. Hermsen would be the first to give ground as he gave up a long two-run home run to Angel Franco in the fourth inning. Hermsen was equally matched by Cougars ace Greg Billo, who just as dominant. That is, until the fourth and fifth innings.

Daniel Santana would get the Snappers right back in the game in the bottom half of fourth with an RBI double to left field that scored Jairo Perez. Ray would tie the game in the sixth inning with a towering solo home run to left field.

With the score tied at two heading into the eighth inning, Franco would hit another home run of Hermsen, which eventually chased him from the game. Before tonight the Snappers were on a five-game losing streak, have had their fare share of defensive miscues and were facing Midwest League's ERA leader. With everything working against them, they found a way to muster up some offense and tie the game in the ninth inning.

With two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning, Wang-Wei Lin took matters into his own hands and did what he had to do to get the game to extra-innings. After Santana would single before him and advance to third on a two-base throwing error from Kane County pitcher Chas Byrne, Lin singled up the middle to easily score Santana.

The two teams would go exchange a few scoreless innings and when it seemed like the Snappers would be heading to the 13th inning, the heart of the order stepped to the plate. Lance Ray would bloop a single to short left-center field to set the stage for Michael Gonzales.

Gonzales had been struggling as of late, as the consistent .300 hitter has seen his average plummet to the .280's. He finished off the game with a roped double to the gap in left-center field to score Ray and break the losing streak as the crowd went insane.

Hermsen would get a no-decision, but pitched well. He threw 7 2/3 innings, allowed three earned runs on seven hits and struck out six. Billo was just as good, working six innings, scattering four hits and allowed two earned runs. Snappers' reliever Bart Carter kept the Snappers in the game with 3 1/3 innings of shut out baseball, allowing just one hit and striking out six.

With the win, the Snappers are still three games out of a playoff spot behind the Clinton LumberKings. The Cougars are now one game out of first-place behind the Quad Cities River Bandits who come to Beloit for four games starting tomorrow night.

The "Brodie Trophy Player of the Game," goes to Michael Gonzales, who finished 2-for-5 with his walk-off, game-winning RBI double. The award could have easily gone to Daniel Santana or Lance Ray, who both contributed multi-hit games and had extra-base hits.

Tomorrow night, the Snappers continue their eight-game home stand with the first of four games against the Quad Cities River Bandits. It will be Snappy's mascot party as well as the 11th fireworks show of the season, sponsored by E & D Waterworks. Game time is set for 7:00pm, with the gates opening one hour prior.

The Beloit Snappers are a member of the Midwest League and a Class-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins. For ticket information, contact the Snappers office at 608-362-2272 or visit the website at www.snappersbaseball.com.

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