Rattlers squeak by Snappers again
September 4, 2005 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers News Release
BELOIT, WI -- Brandon Green singled in the winning run with a two-out RBI single in the top of the eighth inning and the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers beat the Beloit Snappers 3-2 Sunday afternoon at Pohlman Field. For the second game in a row, the Rattlers beat their instate rivals by one run. Jon Lockwood struck out six over three innings of scoreless relief for the win and Eric O'Flaherty got his thirteenth save of the year by closing out the Snappers in the ninth.
Former Wisconsin-Oshkosh Titan Korey Feiner drove in Beloit's first run of the game with a two-out single in the bottom of the second inning. Rattler starting pitcher Cibney Bello walked Jeremy Pickrel, the first batter of the inning. Then, got the next two outs, but walked Paul Kelly. Feiner lined a 2-1 pitch into left field to score Pickrel.
Beloit (68-71 overall, 35-34 second half) added a run in the bottom of the fourth inning thanks to a bout of wildness by Bello. He retired the first two batters with no problem, but walked Johnny Woodard, Kelly, and Feiner to load the bases. Then, Landon Burt drew a walk -- the fourth straight free pass of the inning -- to push Woodard home for a 2-0 lead.
The Rattlers (76-62, 37-31) rallied in the top of the fifth. Josh Womack tripled to start the inning. Luis Soto drove him in with a grounder. Jack Arroyo drew a walk and took third on a hit-and-run single by Brent Johnson. Oswaldo Navarro sent a fly ball to shallow left and shortstop Trevor Plouffe raced back to make the catch, but his momentum carried him away from the infield. Arroyo alertly tagged and beat the throw to score the tying run.
Wisconsin took their first lead of the game in the eighth inning. Jeff Clement snapped an 0-for-9 slump with a one out double off the wall in left. Snapper reliever David Shinskie got the next out. Marshall Hubbard, who extended his hitting streak to fifteen games with a pair of doubles earlier in the game, was walked intentionally. That brought Green to the plate. Before Green saw a pitch, Chris Colton replaced Clement at second base as a pinch runner. Green fouled off three different two strike pitches and worked the count full. He sent a ground ball into right for an RBI single and a 3-2 Rattler lead.
Lockwood allowed a one out single in the bottom of the eighth, but stranded the tying run. O'Flaherty entered the game in the bottom of the ninth and he retired the Snappers 1-2-3 for the save.
For the second game in a row, the Rattlers denied the Snappers a chance to solidify a second half playoff spot. If Kane County wins their game at home against Cedar Rapids tonight, Beloit will be one game behind the Cougars in the wild card standings. If the Kernels win that game, Beloit will be in a three-way tie with Kane County and Cedar Rapids for the second half western division wild card with one game remaining in the season.
The final game of the regular season is set for Monday afternoon. The Timber Rattlers have scratched Julio Santiago as the starting pitcher and have not named a replacement starter yet. Beloit plans on Eduardo Morlan (3-4, 4.70ERA) being their starter. Game time is 2:00pm.
Midwest League Stories from September 4, 2005
- Dragons shutout in Fort Wayne 7-0 - Dayton Dragons
- Cougars one win away from playoffs - Kane County Cougars
- Swing return to postseason - Quad Cities River Bandits
- Rattlers squeak by Snappers again - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
- Lugnuts use big inning to top Whitecaps, 6-2 - Lansing Lugnuts
- Rays move to within game of first place - Southwest Michigan Devil Rays
- Missed chances cost Swing - Quad Cities River Bandits
- Lugnuts cripple Whitecap offense - West Michigan Whitecaps
- L-Kings Come From Behind For Victory - Clinton LumberKings
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
