Rattlers go long to beat Swing

May 9, 2006 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers News Release

FOX CITIES STADIUM -- Michael Saunders and Bryan Sabatella homered in the second inning to give Justin Thomas enough offense in a 4-2 Wisconsin Timber Rattler victory over the Swing of the Quad Cities Tuesday night at soggy Fox Cities Stadium. Thomas pitched six innings in a steady drizzle, gave up two runs on three hits, and struck out six for his third win of the season. Both Saunders and Sabatella hit their first home runs of the season in the game.

Quad Cities (14-18) took an early lead. An infield single by Matt Wilkerson in the first and a run scoring single by Luis Cotto in the second gave the Swing their only runs.

Wisconsin (15-17) answered by going deep in the third inning. Saunders hit an opposite field homer to left to lead off the inning. Eddy Hernandez drew a one out walk. Then, Sabatella lifted a high flyball to left that carried over the wall for a 3-2 Wisconsin lead.

The Rattlers pushed their advantage to 4-2 in the fourth. Casey Craig doubled to start the inning. Hernandez followed with an RBI double.

Thomas worked his way through jams in both the fifth and sixth innings, but kept the Swing from crossing the plate before he turned things over to the Timber Rattler bullpen.

Joe Woerman gave up one hit and struck out four over two innings. Then, Edgar Guaramato closed out the game with a perfect ninth inning for his sixth save of the season.

The Rattlers and Swing meet again on Wednesday morning. Paul Fagan (1-2, 5.70ERA) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Rattlers. Kyle Sadlowski (1-0, 2.61ERA) is the scheduled starter for the Swing. Game time is 11:35am.

Midwest League Stories from May 9, 2006

• Second Annual Kernels Foundation Benefit 5K Run/Walk - Cedar Rapids Kernels
• Kernels slay Dragons in 9-0 romp - Cedar Rapids Kernels
• Swing slip up in Wisconsin - Quad Cities River Bandits
• Kane County Clips Lansing - Lansing Lugnuts
• Rattlers go long to beat Swing - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
• Devil Rays Show No Signs of Slowing Down - Southwest Michigan Devil Rays
• Bees Blank Silver Hawks - Burlington Bees
• Devil Rays Add Insult to Injury - Clinton LumberKings
• Big Inning Dooms Cougars in Lansing - Kane County Cougars
• Kernels Blank Dragons 9-0 - Dayton Dragons
• Wizards Deep-Six Chiefs Win Streak - Peoria Chiefs
• Hawks blanked, 2-0 - South Bend Silver Hawks
• Justice powers comeback - West Michigan Whitecaps
• New look for Wizards roster - Fort Wayne TinCaps
• No bull: ‘Moose' named MWL Pitcher of the Week - Cedar Rapids Kernels

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