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MWL1 Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

Rattlers fall to Bees in regular season home finale

August 29, 2014 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers News Release


GRAND CHUTE, WI - The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers missed early opportunities on Friday night against the Burlington Bees and a 4-2 loss to the Bees at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium cost the Rattlers an opportunity to close in on a playoff spot.

Eric Aguilera put the Bees (67-69 overall, 29-28 second half) up 1-0 in the top of the first inning with a two-out ground rule double to right center field to score Bo Way from second base. The run was unearned. Way had singled to start the game and moved to second on a passed ball. He was still at second with two outs when Aguilera hit his ground rule double.

Way singled with one out in the top of the third inning. Kody Eaves followed with a home run to deep right-center and Burlington was up 3-0.

The Rattlers (71-65, 35-31) clawed their way back to within a run with single runs in the third and fifth innings. Clint Coulter singled with two outs in the bottom of the third inning to drive Taylor Brennan home from second base for the first Wisconsin run off Burlington starter Victor Alcantara.

In the fifth, the David Denson was at third and Coulter was at first with one out. Coulter took off early to draw a throw from pitcher Victor Alcantara. But, the Bees starter went into his delivery and stopped before turning to throw for a balk to let Denson score. The Rattlers had pulled to within 3-2 on the play and had Coulter in scoring position, but Alcantara got out of the inning with a strikeout and a grounder to third.

Rafael Neda drew a leadoff walk, the fifth free pass of game issued by Alcantara, in the bottom of the sixth. Alcantara got the first out before turning the game over to the Bees bullpen. Brian Loconsole entered and got a double play on the first pitch he threw to end the inning.

Alcantara allowed six hits, walked five, and threw two wild pitches in his 5-1/3 innings, but only allowed two runs. He left with a chance for his seventh win of the season.

Johnny Davis singled with one out in the seventh inning, but was left stranded at second base.

Burlington tacked on an insurance run in the top of the eighth and it was an unearned run, too. Way reached on a single with one out. Eaves was next and his grounder to first was missed for an error to put runners at the corners. Brandon Bayardi's fly ball to right field was deep enough to score Way from third base for a 4-2 lead.

Loconsole struck out the side in order in the eighth and left in favor of Burlington closer Alan Busenitz for the bottom of the ninth. Busenitz, who retired all six batters he faced in a two-inning save of a 1-0 Burlington win over the Rattlers on Wednesday, set down the first two batters he faced in the ninth on Friday. Taylor Brennan drew a two-out walk to keep the game going, but Busenitz got the final out with a strikeout.

The Bees won the season series from the Timber Rattlers with ten wins in the nineteen meetings between the teams this season. Wisconsin went just 4-7 against the Bees at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium this season.

In the Western Division Wild Card race, the two teams behind the Timber Rattlers were playing doubleheaders on Friday night. The Quad Cities River Bandits split a twinbill at home with the Clinton LumberKings. Quad Cities lost game one 1-0 and won game two 6-4. The Chiefs won game one of their doubleheader at home with the Beloit Snappers 10-4. There was a rain delay of over two hours between the end of game one and the start of game two at Dozer Park. The Chiefs were trailing 4-0 early in game two when this story was published.

The River Bandits are 33-34 and two games behind the Timber Rattlers. If Peoria comes back to win the nightcap of their doubleheader, they will be 34-33 and one game behind the Rattlers. If the Chiefs does not come back to win the second game of the doubleheader, they will be 33-34 and two games behind the Rattlers. There are three games remaining in the regular season.

Peoria will hit the road for their final three games of the regular season to face the 90-47 Kane County Cougars on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. The River Bandits final three games of the regular season will also be on the road as they head to Burlington for a series against the Bees, who made the playoffs as the first half Wild Card in the Western Division. The Rattlers are on to Beloit for a series with the Snappers at Pohlman Field.

The Timber Rattlers hold the tie-breaker over both Quad Cities and Peoria if there is a tie with either team at the end of the regular season. If there is a three way tie between the teams at the end of the regular season, Peoria holds the tie-breaker.

Game one of Wisconsin's three-game set at Beloit is Friday night. Javier Salas (1-1, 2.89) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers. Joey Wagman (1-2, 6.10) is set to start for the Snappers. Game time at Pohlman Field is 7:00pm. Tune in for the action on AM1280, WNAM or IHeartRadio starting with the Miller Lite Pregame Show at 6:40pm.

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