Rattler comeback wasted in ten inning loss to Fort Wayne
September 5, 2004 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers News Release
FOX CITIES STADIUM -- The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers spotted the Fort Wayne Wizards a 5-0 in the top of the first inning and rallied back to tie the game 5-5 Sunday afternoon. But, Fort Wayne scored an unearned in the top of the tenth to beat the Rattlers 6-5. Fernando Valenzuela drove in three runs, including the game winner in the tenth, for the Wizards. The loss was Wisconsin's sixth in a row.
The first five Wizard batters reached in the top of the first and all five scored. Chris Kohlkhorst singled. Brian Wahlbrink singled. George Kottaras walked and the bases were loaded. Valenzuela singled in a pair for a 2-0 lead. Sean Kazmar made it 3-0 with an RBI double. Brett Bovechio made the first out of the inning with an RBI ground out. Drew Macias followed with another RBI ground out and it was 5-0 Fort Wayne.
Adam Jones homered with two out and none on in the bottom of the first inning to get the Rattlers on the board.
Wisconsin (57-81 overall, 26-43 second half) closed the gap with a two-out, two-run double by Josh Womack in the bottom of the fifth. The lead got cut to 5-4 on a sacrifice fly by Chris Collins in the bottom of the sixth.
The Rattles tied the game 5-5 on an RBI ground out by Michael Cox in the bottom of the eighth.
Fort Wayne (71-68, 38-31) scored an unearned run in the top of the tenth for the game winner. Wahlbrink drew a one out walk and raced for third when a pick off throw by Collins went down the rightfield line. Valenzuela sent a fly ball deep enough to center to allow Wahlbrink to score the go ahead run.
Matt Varner pitched a 1-2-3 tenth for his first save of the season.
The Rattlers went winless in eleven Sunday games in the second half and finished the 2004 season 2-18 on Sundays.
The Rattlers wrap up their season Monday afternoon against the Wizards. Wisconsin has not announced a starting pitcher for Monday's game. Michael Eckstrom (0-2, 10.68ERA) gets the ball for Fort Wayne. Game time is 1:05pm.
Midwest League Stories from September 5, 2004
- Tigers Send New Player for Playoffs; Llamas to West Michigan; McKinney on DL - West Michigan Whitecaps
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- 'Caps Fall in Extra Innings - West Michigan Whitecaps
- Chiefs In, Snappers Out of Playoffs - Beloit Sky Carp
- Rattler comeback wasted in ten inning loss to Fort Wayne - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
- Yankees Put Up Five Run First; Beat Dayton 7-3 - Dayton Dragons
- Yanks win, stay alive in playoff race - Southwest Michigan Devil Rays
- LumberKings Clinch Playoff Spot - Clinton LumberKings
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