MWL1 Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

Rattlers go distance to get above .500

Published on June 27, 2009 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers News Release


GRAND CHUTE, WI - The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers outlasted the Peoria Chiefs 2-1 in a fourteen inning game at Time Warner Cable Field on Saturday night. The Rattlers did not have a hit over the final six innings, lost two players to injuries, sat through a pair of short rain delays, and took advantage of five Peoria errors to win their third straight game and move their overall record above .500 for the first time since April 24.

Neither team could score against the opponents starting pitcher. Cody Scarpetta struck out six over five scoreless innings for the Rattlers (37-36 overall, 3-0 second half). Peoria starter Chris Carpenter kept the Rattlers off the scoreboard for 4-1/3.

However, neither starter got a chance to go any deeper in the game. A hard rain shower of less than five minutes hit the stadium with one out in the bottom of the fifth inning. Earlier in the game, a brief downpour forced a four minute pause in the game without the need for the tarp. But, this time the umpires called for the tarp to be placed on the field. There was an 18 minute delay and neither starter came back after the game restarted.

The Chiefs (38-34, 0-3) got on the board first with a solo homer by Josh Vitters in the top of the sixth inning. Vitters, who has homered in two straight games in this series, hit his fifteenth home run of the season with one out off Erfrain Nieves. Nieves and two other Wisconsin pitchers kept the Chiefs off the board for the rest of the game.

Chris Siegfried, who got the final two outs in the bottom of the fifth inning as the reliever for Carpenter, allowed a one out double to Brett Lawrie in the bottom of the sixth. Chris Dennis reached on an error that sent Lawrie to third. Brock Kjeldgaard was next and he sent a grounder to third. The throw to second got Dennis, but Kjeldgaard beat the relay to first to beat the double play and Lawrie scored the tying run.

Wisconsin had a great opportunity in the bottom of the eighth inning, but the arm of rightfielder Kyler Burke kept the game tied. Corey Kemp reached on a throwing error by pitcher Erik Hamren. But, Burke threw out Kemp as he tried to take third on the play. Later in the inning, Dennis tried to score from second on a two out single to right by Jose Duran. Burke threw Dennis out at the plate for the final out of the inning.

Dennis was injured on the play. The throw from Burke was up the third base line and Dennis leapt to avoid the tag of catcher Michael Brenly. The tag was applied and Dennis landed awkwardly on his right leg and had to be helped off the field.

Dennis was the second Rattler who had to be carried off the field. In the third inning, Steve Braun was on third base and broke for the plate on an attempted suicide squeeze. However, the Chiefs pitched out on the play and Braun was caught in a rundown. He went down making a turn to the plate and needed assistance to get off the field.

The Chiefs had runners at first and third with no outs against Daniel Meadows in the top of the tenth inning and attempted a squeeze. The play did not work for the Chiefs as the batter missed the ball and the runner was easily tagged out between third and home.

The score stayed tied until the bottom of the fourteenth. That's when the Rattlers cashed in on some Peoria mistakes. Duran reached to start the frame on a throwing error by shortstop Ryan Flaherty. One out later, Duran advanced to second on a wild pitch by Peoria reliever Manolin DeLeon.

DeLeon got the second out and Sanchez stepped up to the plate. The Rattlers centerfielder swung at the first pitch and popped the ball up to short right. The game appeared to be headed to the fifteenth inning as second baseman Junior Lake settled underneath the ball.

But, Lake missed the ball. Duran crossed home with the winning run and the Rattlers are now 7-0 against the Midwest League affiliate of the Chicago Cubs in 2009.

Nick Tyson, who extended his season scoreless streak to 15-1/3 innings with a 1-2-3 top of the fourteenth, picked up the victory.

The final game of the four game series is Sunday afternoon. Trey Watten (3-6, 3.78) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Rattlers. Peoria sends Aaron Shafer (5-4, 5.04) to the mound. Game time is 1:05pm.

Sunday is the first Bark in the Park Event at Time Warner Cable Field. Dog owners may bring their canines to the game and watch the game from the left field grass seating.

Sunday is also Brewers Sunday with the players wearing Milwaukee Brewers-themed jerseys and caps. Players will be available for a post-game autograph session on Sunday, too.

Check out the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers Statistics

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Midwest League Stories from June 27, 2009


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