MWL1 Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

Rattlers snap losing streak with big night

Published on August 2, 2013 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers News Release


GENEVA, IL - The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers were looking to end their four game losing streak as they took on the Kane County Cougars at Fifth Third Bank Ballpark on Friday Night. The Rattlers made it interesting, but pounded out seventeen hits on the way to a 7-4 victory. Lance Roenicke and Parker Berberet led the way for the offense with four hits apiece. On the pitching side of the ledger, Mike Strong provided ten strikeouts in four innings of relief and picked up the win.

Victor Roache tripled off the wall in right field to start the second inning. Garrett Cooper followed with a single through the right side of the infield for a 1-0 lead. Cooper was erased on a double play so the Rattlers restarted the rally with a two out single by Roenicke. A wild pitch sent Roenicke to second. Chris McFarland's sinking line drive to right popped in and out of the glove of Reggie Golden, who made a diving attempt at the catch. Roenicke scored on the play and the Rattlers (45-60 overall, 16-24 second half) were up 2-0.

Rattlers starting pitcher Austin Ross pitched around a leadoff walk in the bottom of the second and left the Cougars with the bases loaded in the third. Ross, who is still working his way back from Tommy John Surgery in May of 2012, left after three scoreless innings.

Roenicke gave Ross a little going away present with a solo home run to left-center in the top of the fourth.

Strong pitched a scoreless fourth and almost escaped the fifth without allowing a run. But Kane County (43-62, 13-26) tied the game in their half of the fifth.

Oliver Zapata tripled to right-center to start the Cougars fifth. Strong struck out the next two batters, but hit Dan Vogelbach and walked Jeimer Candelario on four pitches to load the bases. Strong got ahead of Rock Shoulders 0-2, but the Kane County designated hitter lined the next pitch to the gap in left-center for a bases-clearing double to tie the game 3-3.

Wisconsin responded in the top of the sixth. Berberet doubled to start the inning. Roenicke's sacrifice bunt turned into a bunt single to put runners at the corners. McFarland grounded into a 6-4-3 double play to score Berberet with the go ahead run.

The Rattlers restarted another rally after this double play, too.

Orlando Arcia drew a walk and Alfredo Rodriguez followed with a single to put Arcia on third base. Michael Reed, in his first game back from the disabled list, singled to get Arcia home for a 5-3 lead.

Strong would work a 1-2-3 sixth, but ran into trouble in the seventh. Gioskar Amaya and Albert Almora singled to start the inning. Strong struck out Vogelbach for the first out of the inning - and his eight strikeout of the game. Candelario was next and he snuck a single up the middle to drive in Amaya and cut Wisconsin's lead to one run.

Strong bounced back and struck out Shoulders and Marco Hernandez to end the frame with the tying and lead runs on base. Strong allowed four runs on six hits and struck out ten over his four innings of work.

Wisconsin added a pair of insurance runs in the top of the ninth. Berberet knocked in a run with a single to left, his fourth hit of the game. Roenicke followed with an RBI single, his fourth hit of the game, and the Rattlers led 7-4 heading to the bottom of the ninth.

Rodolfo Fernandez, who pitched a 1-2-3 eighth inning, allowed a one out single in the bottom of the ninth to Almora. But, Fernandez ended the game with a flourish by striking out Vogelbach and Candelario to end the game.

The three Wisconsin pitchers - Ross (3), Strong (10), and Fernandez (3) - combined for 16 strikeouts.

Roenicke had a scored twice and knocked in two runs to go along with his four hits in Friday's game.

Berberet extended his hitting streak to seventeen games as he went 4-for-5 in the game. That is the longest hitting streak by a Timber Rattler this season and ties him with Cody Hawn for the fourth longest hitting streak in team history.

The Timber Rattlers return home on Saturday to begin a four game series with the Beloit Snappers. Preston Gainey (4-5, 6.08) is the scheduled starting pitcher for Wisconsin. Beloit sends Seth Streich (10-6, 3.82) to the bump. Game time is 6:35pm.

Saturday night is Jimmy Buffett Night. There will be plenty of tropical feelings around the park and South of Disorder, a Jimmy Buffett tribute band, will be playing a postgame concert on the club level. Plus, Fly Away Saturday means one lucky fan will win airfare for two from Funjet Vacations and Fox World Travel at this game and FOX 11 presents a postgame fireworks display!

If you can't make it out to the ballpark, My NEW32's Sports Showdown has the television broadcast starting with their pregame show at 6:00pm. The radio call is on AM1280, WNAM and IHeartRadio starting with the Miller Lite Pregame Show at 6:15pm. Subscribers of MiLB.tv may also catch the game.

Check out the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers Statistics

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Midwest League Stories from August 2, 2013


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