MWL1 Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

Rattlers Bats Shine in Burlington

Published on July 5, 2009 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers News Release


BURLINGTON, IA -- The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers grabbed a 7-1 lead and had an answer for every offensive surge by the Burlington Bees Sunday at Community Field. The Timber Rattlers held on for a 10-8 win and moved to two games over the .500 mark for the first time since they were 3-1 back on April 13. Brock Kjeldgaard and Juan Sanchez each homered for the Rattlers. The duo also combined for six of Wisconsin's 14 hits.

Wisconsin (41-39 overall, 7-3 second half) scored a run in the top of the first inning. Pete Fatse scored from second on an RBI single by Corey Kemp. The Bees (33-47, 4-6) would tie the game in the bottom of the first inning on a throwing error by Fatse from left field.

The Rattlers retook the lead with three unearned runs in the top of the third inning. Kemp reached on a error with one out and Kjeldgaard singled. Burlington starting pitcher Sam Runion got the second out. Then, he appeared to get Michael Vass on a routine fly ball to right.

However, Nick Van Stratten lost the ball in the sun. Both Kemp and Kjeldgaard were running on the 3-2 pitch and two outs and both scored for a 3-1 lead as Vass cruised into second base. Michael Marseco followed with a line drive double down the right field line and Wisconsin led 4-1.

John Delaney delivered a two-out, two-run double with the bases loaded in the top of the fourth. Sanchez kept the offense rolling in the fifth inning with a solo homer to left with two outs. That homer by Sanchez was his first of the season and gave the Rattlers a 7-1 lead.

But, Burlington didn't go away after the Rattlers went up by six. In the bottom of the fifth inning, Patrick Norris reached on an infield single with one out. The speedy Norris stole second and scored from second on a wild pitch by Timber Rattlers starting pitcher Adams. The Bees put two runners on with two outs after an infield single and a walk against Adams. Jason Taylor singled in a run. Then, Delaney committed an error that let in one more run to cut Wisconsin's lead to 7-4.

Adams got out of the frame with a groundout to stay up by three. Adams worked five innings, allowed four runs (two earned) on six hits and struck out one to put himself in position for his second win of the season.

Brett Lawrie singled in a run in the top of the seventh to push the Rattlers back in front by four runs.

Liam Ohlmann, who had replaced Adams in the sixth inning, ran into trouble in the seventh. The Bees had runners at the corners and two outs. David Wood laced a triple to the right field corner that scored both runners to make the score 8-6. Brandon Ritchie relieved Ohlmann and got a strikeout to end the seventh.

Kemp reached for the fifth time in the game to start the Rattlers eighth inning. He drew a walk, his third of the game. Kjledgaard was next and he lined a 1-1 pitch from Riquy Pena just over the 16' high wall in right field for his thirteenth homer of the season and a 10-6 Rattlers advantage.

And still, the Bees kept at it. They loaded the bases against Ritchie in the bottom of the eighth inning. A wild pitch by the Rattler lefty and an RBI grounder by Van Stratten plated two runs and made the score 10-8 heading to the ninth inning.

But, Nick Tyson halted the Bees in the bottom of the ninth. He retired the first two hitters of the frame before walking Jose Bonilla to bring up the tying run. Tyson got Shawn Griffin to ground out to third to end the game. Tyson is 4-for-4 in save opportunities this season.

Adams got the win and it was his first since an April 29 victory over the Great Lakes Loons at Time Warner Cable Field.

Game three of the series is Monday night at Community Field. Wisconsin has Wily Peralta (3-1, 3.41) as the scheduled starting pitcher. Burlington counters with Tim Melville (2-4, 4.50). Game time is 6:30pm.

Check out the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers Statistics

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Midwest League Stories from July 5, 2009


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