Rattlers lose a heartbreaker
July 2, 2006 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers News Release
COMSTOCK PARK, MI -- A two-out RBI single in the bottom of the tenth inning by Cory Middleton gave the West Michigan Whitecaps a 5-4 victory and spoiled a stirring Wisconsin Timber Rattler comeback Sunday night at Fifth Third Ballpark. Alex Gary sent the game to extra innings with a three-run homer in the top of the ninth inning, but the Whitecaps scored the run in the tenth for a four-game sweep of the Wisconsin.
The Rattlers (29-52 overall, 2-9 second half) had a chance to score first. Luis Valbuena and Robby Hudson singled to start the fourth inning. Curtis Ledbetter worked the count to 3-2 and the Rattlers tried a hit-and-run. However, Ledbetter took strike three and Valbuena was thrown out at third. Whitecap starting pitcher Erik Averill got the final out of the inning on a grounder to third.
Mike Hernandez continued his demolition of Timber Rattler pitching with a home run to lead off the bottom of the fourth inning. Sunday was the third straight game with a homer for Hernandez. He had seven hits in the series -- three homers, three doubles, and a single.
West Michigan (50-28, 9-2) added an unearned run in the bottom of the fifth inning. A two-out, RBI single by Cameron Maybin put the Caps in front 2-0.
Wisconsin got a one out triple from Jairo Hernandez in the top of the sixth inning. Valbuena's RBI single got the Rattlers to within 2-1. Hudson followed with an infield single to put runners at first and second. But, Averill got Ledbetter to ground into an inning ending 5-4-3 double play.
The Whitecaps got another run in the bottom of the seventh. A one-out triple by Michael Hollimon was followed by a sacrifice fly from Matt Joyce for a 3-1 lead. Joyce made it 4-1 with an RBI single in the bottom of the eighth.
West Michigan closer Orlando Perdomo came on in the ninth and tried to nail down the win and the sweep for the Whitecaps. But, the Rattlers had other ideas. Perdomo, who had been 18-for-20 in save opportunities was hit for back-to-back one out singles by Hudson and Ledbetter. That brought Gary to the plate as the tying run.
Gary worked the count to 3-1 and crushed the game-tying, three-run homer deep into the night over the left field wall. It was only the second home run allowed by Perdomo in thirty-one innings this season.
But, in the bottom of the tenth, Roman Martinez walked Maybin to start the inning and threw a wild pitch to move Maybin to second. Martinez walked Hernandez intentionally and Lance Beus came out of the bullpen to face Justice. Justice dropped a sacrifice bunt to push both runners up a base. Then, Beus walked Hollimon intentionally to load the bases.
Beus got the second out by getting Joyce to popout. But, Middleton drove a 2-1 pitch just out of the reach of a diving Gary in centerfield to drive in the winning run.
The Rattlers begin a four game series against the Southwest Michigan Devil Rays Monday night at C.O. Brown Stadium in Battle Creek, Michigan. Marwin Vega (2-5, 6.19ERA) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers. The Devil Rays counter with Jake McGee (6-6, 2.64). Game time is 6:05pm CDT.
Midwest League Stories from July 2, 2006
- Swing swept by South Bend - Quad Cities River Bandits
- Middleton saves Whitecaps after blown lead - West Michigan Whitecaps
- Clinton mounts comeback to salvage finale - Lansing Lugnuts
- Rattlers lose a heartbreaker - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
- Kernels defense breaks down in 4-3 loss to Dayton - Cedar Rapids Kernels
- Devil Rays cast magic on Wizards - Southwest Michigan Devil Rays
- Carter, Chiefs clobber Bees - Burlington Bees
- Dragons pick up late inning win, 4-3 - Dayton Dragons
- Recker, Lansford lead Cougars past Snappers - Kane County Cougars
- Kane County defeats Snappers - Beloit Sky Carp
- Cubs' Wade Miller to start against LKings - Clinton LumberKings
- Eddie DeLaCruz Added to Active Roster - Southwest Michigan Devil Rays
- Devil Rays Beat Wizards In 13 Innings - Southwest Michigan Devil Rays
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