MWL1 Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

Rattlers Hunt Down An Extra Inning Win

Published on August 14, 2010 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers News Release


GRAND CHUTE, WI - Hunter Morris shook off a rough night at the plate and erased a season of extra inning frustration for the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers with one swing of the bat in the bottom of the eleventh inning. Morris drove in a pair of runs with a two out double in the eleventh to give the Rattlers a 6-5 win over the Cedar Rapids Kernels on Saturday night. The win gave the Rattlers their first extra inning victory of the season in their eleventh try. It also was the fifth win in the last six games for the Rattlers and put the team in the thick of the Midwest League playoff race with twenty-two games remaining in the season.

Cedar Rapids (70-45 overall, 27-20 second half) grabbed the early lead on a first inning sacrifice fly by Eric Oliver. The Kernels added to their lead in the fourth inning on a two-out, two-run homer by Jon Karcich.

The Kernels were poised for more runs in the top of the fifth inning against Rattlers starting pitcher Hiram Burgos. They had runners at second and third with one out. Burgos struck out the next batter, but hit Oliver to load the bases. The Rattler starter got out of the inning with his fifth strikeout of the game.

Wisconsin (49-67, 23-25) had stranded six runners through the first four innings. Then, they cashed in their opportunities against Cedar Rapids in the bottom of the fifth. Cutter Dykstra doubled to start the inning. Then, a walk and infield single loaded the bases. Khris Davis smacked a two-run single to center to put Wisconsin on the scoreboard. An RBI grounder by Chris Dennis sent the tying run home.

In the sixth, the Rattlers took the lead. D'Vontrey Richardson walked to lead off the inning. Michael Marseco bunted Richardson into scoring position. Then, Dykstra doubled to left-center - his third double of the night - and Richardson scored for a 4-3 lead.

But, the Kernels rallied to tie the game in the eighth against reliever Santo Manzanillo. Oliver started the inning with a double. A grounder to the right side moved Oliver to third. Then, Manzanillo threw a wild pitch to allow Oliver to score the tying run.

Cedar Rapids took the lead in the eleventh on a fluky play. Jose Jimenez walked and was replaced by pinch runner Terrell Alliman to start the inning. A sacrifice moved Alliman to second. Jean Segura singled to right, but Alliman stopped at third. The throw went home and Segura took second base.

Wisconsin decided to intentionally walk Matt Long to load the bases. But, reliever Adrian Rosario, who had been keeping the Kernels off the board through his first 2-2/3 innings on the hill committed an unforced error. Ball one to Long was too high for catcher Cameron Garfield to pull down and the pitch went to the backstop to allow Alliman to score the go-ahead run. Rosario got the final two outs, but the Rattlers trailed 5-4 heading to the bottom of the ninth.

The Rattlers looked like they were headed for their eleventh extra inning loss of the season when Kernels reliever David Carpenter retired the first two batters of the bottom of the ninth. Kentrail Davis kept the game alive by slamming a single through the left side of the infield. Khris Davis fouled off a pair of 3-2 pitches from Carpenter before laying off a pitch in the dirt to draw a walk.

That brought Morris to the plate. The Rattlers first baseman was 1-for-5 on the night with four strikeouts heading into the at bat in the eleventh. He fell behind Carpenter 0-2 as he took strike one and fouled the next pitch to the backstop. Then, lightning struck.

Morris drove an 0-2 pitch that got too much of the plate to the gap in right-center. As the ball rolled to the 405' sign at the wall, both Davises circled the bases to give the Rattlers a thrilling come-from-behind 6-5 win.

Both the Western division leading Kane County Cougars and the Clinton LumberKings, the current holders of the wild card spot, lost on Saturday night. As the season heads into the action on Sunday afternoon, the Rattlers trail the Cougars by 4.5 games and the LumberKings (and now Beloit) by 2.5 games.

The series continues on Sunday afternoon at Time Warner Cable Field. Efrain Nieves (3-3, 4.23) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers. Cedar Rapids has Ariel Pena (6-4, 3.94) as their scheduled starting pitcher. Game time is 1:05pm.

Sunday is a Brewers Sunday presented by 107.5 The Fan. Timber Rattlers players will be wearing jerseys and caps based on those of the 1982 Milwaukee Brewers. Fans may play catch on the field before the game. There is also a post-game autograph session with the players. Additionally, Time Warner Cable subscribers may bring in their bill and receive up to four half priced reserve seat tickets.

Sunday is also Bring Your Dog to the Ballpark Day presented by The Nutro Company. A special section of Time Warner Cable Field will be set aside for canine Rattlers fans and their owners. Human tickets are $5 and tickets for the pooches are $2. Please see this release for the full details of the day, including the necessary proof of updated vaccinations needed for the dog to attend. Proceeds from the tickets for the pups will go to the Fox Valley Humane Association.

If you can't make it out to the ballpark, tune in for the broadcast on AM1280, WNAM starting with the Miller Lite Pregame Show at 12:45pm.

Check out the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers Statistics

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Midwest League Stories from August 14, 2010


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