MWL1 Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

Rattlers offense carried them to win

Published on August 14, 2008 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers News Release


PEORIA, IL - Joe White's two-run homer in the top of the ninth inning broke a 5-5 tie and led the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers to a 7-5 victory over the Peoria Chiefs Thursday night at O'Brien Field. The win was the third straight for Wisconsin.

The teams traded runs early in the game. Peoria scored a run in the bottom of the first inning on an RBI single by Jovan Rosa. The Rattlers answered with a run scoring sacrifice fly by Juan Diaz in the top of the second. Dylan Johnston gave the Chiefs a 2-1 lead with a solo homer in the bottom of the second.

Wisconsin (18-35 second half, 49-70 overall) broke in front with four runs in the top of the fifth inning. Joe Dunigan stepped to the plate with runners at the corners and one out. He beat out the relay from second on a potential inning-ending double play ball to let the runner from third score. Alex Liddi followed with a three-run homer and the Rattlers were up 5-2.

Timber Rattler starting pitcher Phillippe Aumont left after four innings as he reached his pitch limit. Aumont, making his first start since June 9, went four innings and allowed two runs on three hits with a hit batsman, a walk, a wild pitch, and three strikeouts.

Jose Jimenez relieved Aumont and immediately got into trouble in the bottom of the fifth. A leadoff double by Jake Opitz and a walk to Mario Mercedes got the ball rolling for the Chiefs (25-28, 55-66). Then, Jimenez committed a balk to put runners on second and third with no outs.

The Rattler reliever would strike out the next batter, but he gave up an RBI single to Nate Samson and the Chiefs pulled to within 5-3. Samson was the last batter Jimenez faced. Keith Meyer relieved Jimenez, but could not keep the Chiefs from tying the game.

Meyer appeared to have escaped the inning without any more damage. But, a possible inning-ending double play ball went through the legs of Rattler shortstop Juan Diaz to allow one run to score and another to get into scoring position. Meyer would get the next batter to pop out, but a two-out RBI single by Brandon Guyer tied the game 5-5.

Daniel Carroll started the Rattler ninth with a double. A sacrifice bunt by Denny Almonte moved Carroll to third. But, it wasn't necessary. White launched a towering home run down the right field line to put the Rattlers up 7-5. The homer was his first since August 5, 2007.

Meyer got the first out of the bottom of the ninth before giving way to Joe Kantakevich. The veteran Rattler reliever got the next two batters to nail down his first save of the season.

The win gives Wisconsin their first three-game winning streak of the second half of the season.

The final meeting of the season between the Rattlers and Chiefs is Friday night. Keith Renaud (1-3, 4.83) is the scheduled starting pitcher for Wisconsin. Peoria plans on sending Roberto Hernandez (1-3, 5.55) to the hill. Game time is 6:30.

Check out the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers Statistics

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Midwest League Stories from August 14, 2008


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