MWL1 Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

Rattlers stop streak against Bees with 6-4 win

Published on April 23, 2014 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers News Release


BURLINGTON, IA - The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers used a combination of two home runs, speed, five solid innings of starting pitching, and six errors by their opponents to defeat the Burlington Bees 6-4 Wednesday night at Community Field. The win was the first by the Rattlers over the Bees since July 28, 2013, a streak of six straight losses.

Wisconsin (10-8) had scored two runs in the first two games of this series at Burlington. They surpassed that total in the first inning on Wednesday night.

Johnny Davis singled and stole second to start the game. Chris McFarland sent a grounder behind second that was bobbled by Burlington second baseman Kody Eaves. Davis raced for home. The throw was up the line and Davis scored. The throw was also dropped by Anthony Bemboom, the catcher for the Bees, and McFarland ran all the way to third base.

McFarland was still at third base with two outs. Taylor Brennan made sure McFarland would not be left there. The Rattlers third baseman launched a 3-1 pitch over the wall in left for a 2-run homer. Brennan's third home run of the year made it 3-0.

Rattlers starting pitcher Anthony Banda gave up an unearned run in the bottom of the second inning, but nothing else. The lefty pitched around three walks and a wild pitch with the help of three strikeouts over five innings. It was enough for Banda to be in position to win his first win of the season.

That looked like a foregone conclusion when the Rattlers added a run in the fourth and two more in the fifth to push their lead out to 6-1.

In the fourth, Rafael Neda reached on an error to start the frame. A one out walk to Angel Ortega and a force play at second on a fielder's choice by Omar Garcia had Neda at third with two away. Davis smacked his second hit of the night to right field to drive in Neda.

In the fifth, McFarland was hit by a pitch to start the inning. He promptly stole second base to give him ten steals in ten attempts this season. A grounder to the right side by Clint Coulter moved McFarland to third base. Jose Pena was next and he lined a 1-2 pitch just over the wall in left field for his third home run of the season. Pena's blast, his third of the season, pushed the Rattlers lead to five runs.

Victor Diaz kept the lead at 6-1 until the bottom of the eighth. Bemboom drove a two-run home run over the fence in right to make the score 6-3. Mark Shannon walked and stole second. Exicardo Cayones singled with two outs to drive in Shannon and Wisconsin's lead was two runs.

Harvey Martin came out of the bullpen in the bottom of the ninth and he set down the top third of the Burlington batting order 1-2-3 with a pair of strikeouts for his first save of the season.

The Timber Rattlers snapped a six game losing streak to the Bees with the win on Wednesday.

Burlington won the first two games of the series, but Wisconsin will have a chance to earn the split with a win in the series finale on Thursday morning.|

First pitch on Thursday is scheduled for 11:30am. Tristan Archer (0-0, 0.00) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Rattlers. Burlington has Michael Clevinger (1-0, 1.98) as their scheduled starting pitcher. Tune in for the action on AM1280, WNAM or IHeartRadio starting with the pregame show at 11:10am.

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Midwest League Stories from April 23, 2014


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