Rattlers Fall in 11
Published on August 14, 2007 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers News Release
GRAND CHUTE, WI -- Ryan Strieby broke a 3-3 tie with a two-run double in the top of the eleventh inning to lead the West Michigan Whitecaps to a 6-3 win over the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers on Tuesday night at Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium. Whitecap starting pitcher Jonah Nickerson pitched nine innings and struck out nine for a no decision.
West Michigan (72-49 overall, 34-17 second half) used a two-out error and their speed on the base paths to score in the top of the third. Gorkys Hernandez reached second on a throwing error by Rattler third baseman Alex Liddi. Hernandez, the Midwest League leader in stolen bases broke for third on an 0-2 pitch to Jeramy Laster. The ball got by catcher Blake Ochoa and Hernandez never stopped running. He scored on the play, beating Ochoa's throw to the plate for a 1-0 lead.
Wisconsin (42-76, 20-30) answered with a big two out hit in the bottom of the third to snap a long scoreless streak of Nickerson. Ochoa singled to start the inning, but was still there with two outs as Nickerson's scoreless streak reached 26 innings. Gavin Dickey made sure that streak went no farther as he homered to left-center for a 2-1 lead.
Rattler starter Keith Renaud worked a scoreless fourth and fifth innings before turning the game over to the bullpen. But, West Michigan took the lead right away in the top of the sixth against Justin Souza.
Gorkys Hernandez reached on another error. Laster followed with a long homer to right-center and the Whitecaps were up 3-2. Despite it only being the sixth inning, Souza was charged with a blown save. That was the nineteenth blown save by the Rattler bullpen this season.
But, Wisconsin rallied back in the bottom of the seventh. Kuo Hui Lo tripled to start the frame. Jamie McOwen singled through the drawn-in infield to tie the score 3-3. But, that was it for the Rattler offense on the night.
The game stayed tied until the top of the eleventh. Joe Tucker reached on an infield single against Wisconsin reliever Mike Wagner and was sacrificed to second base. Wagner walked Laster to set up the double play with Brennan Boesch coming to the plate. Boesch sent a slow grounder to second baseman Ron Garth. Wisconsin got the force at second, but Boesch beat the relay to first to keep the inning alive.
Steve Richard relieved Wagner and Boesch stole second. Strieby, who had been 0-for-4 on the night, lined a two-run double to left and the Whitecaps went up 5-3. An error on a grounder off the bat of Santo De Leon allowed Strieby to score and the Whitecaps led 6-3.
Dan Fyvie pitched a 1-2-3 bottom of the eleventh for the save. After the RBI single by McOwen tied the game in the seventh inning, the final fifteen Timber Rattler batters were set down in order.
The Timber Rattlers are off on Wednesday. They continue their sixteen game home stand with a game against the Clinton LumberKings on Thursday evening. Tony Butler (1-7, 6.16) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers. Zach Phillips (10-4, 2.78) is set to start for the LumberKings. Game time is 7:05pm.
Midwest League Stories from August 14, 2007
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- Snappers Walk Off Winners - Beloit Sky Carp
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- Fien Returns Favor with Extra-Inning Win - West Michigan Whitecaps
- Rattlers Fall in 11 - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
- Swing Walk Off Again, Sweep Series - Quad Cities River Bandits
- Beloit Walks-Off With Win - Lansing Lugnuts
- Cougars Fall, Split Series with Chiefs - Kane County Cougars
- Dragons Pull Off Get Away Day Win - Dayton Dragons
- Chiefs Defeat Cougars 5-1 Tuesday Night - Peoria Chiefs
- Loons take series finale, 5-3 - Cedar Rapids Kernels
- Dragons Lose Esquer to Sarasota - Dayton Dragons
- Loons Take Series from Cedar Rapids - Great Lakes Loons
- Former 'Caps Contributing in Tigers Pennant Race - West Michigan Whitecaps
- Peterson Activated from DL - Great Lakes Loons
- Kernels fall to Great Lakes, 3-2 - Cedar Rapids Kernels
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