Rattlers squeak by Snappers
September 3, 2005 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers News Release
BELOIT, WI -- Jack Arroyo drove in a run with a two-out single in the top of the seventh innings and Aaron Jensen pitched seven shutout innings to give the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers a 1-0 victory over the Beloit Snappers Saturday night at Pohlman Field. Ivan Blanco and Eric O'Flaherty each left the tying run stranded at third base in the eighth and ninth innings to preserve the victory. The win was Jensen's tenth of the season and put a crimp in Beloit's playoff hopes.
The Rattlers (75-62 overall, 36-31 second half) had the majority of the early scoring opportunities. Wisconsin put a runner at second with one out in the fourth, runners at first and third with one out in the fifth, and a runner at second with one out in the sixth. But, Snapper starter Kevin Slowey got out of each jam.
Beloit (68-70, 35-33) did not threaten to score through the first five innings. At one point, Jensen retired thirteen straight batters. But in the bottom of the sixth, the Snappers had runners at first and third with one out. Deacon Burns sent a flyball to medium rightcenter. Rattler rightfielder Chris Colton made the catch and fired a strike to the plate to cut down the runner for the third out of the inning.
Colton started the top of the seventh inning with a single. Matt Tuiasosopo dropped a perfect sacrifice bunt to move Colton into scoring position. Slowey walked Josh Womack intentionally to set up the double play. Then, Slowey struck out pinch hitter Mike Wilson for the second out and looked like he might escape again.
But, Arroyo -- the number nine hitter in the Rattler lineup -- blooped in a single to left and Colton raced home with the first run of the game.
Jensen worked a 1-2-3 seventh, but walked Johnny Woodard to start the of the bottom of the eighth and turned things over to the Rattler bullpen. Jensen struck out a career high seven and allowed just three hits. The walk to Woodard was his first of the game.
Ivan Blanco entered the game and the Snappers sacrificed Woodard to second. A flyout to deep left allowed Woodard to advance to third. Blanco ended the inning and kept the Rattlers in front 1-0 by getting Landon Burt to ground out to first.
Rattler closer Eric O'Flaherty came on to start the bottom of the ninth and got the first out, but gave up a double to Burns. David Winfree flew out deep to center for the second out and Burns advanced to third with the tying run. O'Flaherty ended the game by striking out Jeremy Pickrel looking and got his twelfth save of the season.
Beloit's loss dropped them back into a tie with Kane County for the Western Division Second Half Wild Card and kept them one game behind Quad Cities for the Second Half Western Division Title. Kane County beat Cedar Rapids and Quad Cities lost at Southwest Michigan. There are two games remaining in the regular season.
The Rattlers will face the wild card from the second half in the first round of the Midwest League Playoffs in a best-of-three first round series beginning September 7.
Game three of the four game series is Sunday afternoon. Cibney Bello (4-4, 5.10ERA) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers. Matt Garza (3-3, 3.60ERA) is scheduled to start for the Snappers. Game time is 2:00pm.
Midwest League Stories from September 3, 2005
- Cougars Walk Off With Crucial Victory - Kane County Cougars
- Snappers Lose Pitchers' Duel, Lose Ground in Playoff Chase - Beloit Sky Carp
- Rattlers squeak by Snappers - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
- Dragons Come From Behind to Shock Fort Wayne 5-4 - Dayton Dragons
- Premier pitching powers Lugnuts past Whitecaps - Lansing Lugnuts
- Mann earns 10th win in Rays 9-1 victory - Southwest Michigan Devil Rays
- Whitecaps must wait another day for the top seed - West Michigan Whitecaps
- Blackwell Headed To High Desert - Burlington Bees
- L-Kings Defeat Bees In Game 1 - Clinton LumberKings
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