Rattlers take series from Snappers with 6-2 win
August 26, 2014 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers News Release
GRAND CHUTE, WI - The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers did what they had to do on Tuesday afternoon to close in on a Midwest League playoff spot. Wisconsin defeated the Beloit Snappers 6-2 at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium behind a strong start from Barrett Astin.
The Timber Rattlers (70-63 overall, 34-30) grabbed the early lead with two runs in the bottom of the second inning. Clint Coulter was hit by a pitch and Michael Ratterree drew a walk to reach base to start the inning. Taylor Brennan's grounder down the third base line went off the glove of Matt Chapman for an error to drive in Coulter. Later in the inning, Angel Ortega singled to knock in Ratterree for a 2-0 lead.
Wisconsin added two runs in the bottom of the third. Chris McFarland doubled and Johnny Davis walked to start the inning. Coulter was up with one out and sent a grounder wide of first. The ball was fielded cleanly by Michael Soto, but the throw to first was high and glanced off the glove of the pitcher covering the base. That allowed McFarland to score. Ratterree would drive in Davis with a sacrifice fly on the next pitch for a 4-0 lead.
The Snappers (52-81, 22-41) got on the board in the fourth inning on an unearned run. BJ Boyd reached on an error to start the inning, stole second and went to third on a ground out. Soto singled through the left side of the infield to score Boyd and make the score 4-1.
That was the only run Astin allowed in six innings. Astin gave up three hits, walked none, hit one, and struck out five to put himself in line for his eighth win of the season.
Wisconsin added to their lead with a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. Ratterree singled and Brennan followed with a hit-and-run single to put runners on the corners with no outs. Sthervin Matos knocked in Ratterree with a sacrifice fly. Brennan was still at first base with two outs when Jose Pena hit a high fly to left. The ball was lost in the Sun for a double and Brennan scored for a 6-1 lead.
Tristan Archer took over in the top of the seventh inning and finished off the game by getting the final nine outs. The only run Archer allowed was a one-out solo home run in the top of the ninth to Justin Higley. Archer got the final two outs to earn his fifth save of the season.
The Timber Rattlers are 2.5 games up on the Quad Cities River Bandits and three games up on the Peoria Chiefs in the race for the Western Division Wild Card in the second half heading into tonight's action in the Midwest League. The River Bandits host Cedar Rapids tonight at 7:00pm. The Chiefs play at doubleheader at Clinton beginning at 5:30pm. The Timber Rattlers will be no worse than two game up on both Bandits and Chiefs at the conclusion of play tonight in the league. There will be six games remaining in the season for all three Wild Card contenders after tonight's games are done.
The Timber Rattlers continue their homestand on Wednesday when they host the Burlington Bees. Clint Terry (3-4, 2.54) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers. The Bees have Victor Alcantara (6-6, 3.83) as their scheduled starter. Game time is 7:05pm.
Wednesday's game is the final WIXX Bang for Your Buck Night. Enjoy Cher-Make hotdogs, Pepsi products, and Miller beer for $1. The first 500 fans to attend this game will receive a magnet of former Timber Rattler and current Milwaukee Brewer Khris Davis courtesy of Lamers Bus Lines. This is magnet number four in a series of four that have been given away this season.
If you can't make it out to the ballpark, there are several ways to catch the action. Time Warner Cable SportsChannel will televise the game starting at 7:00pm. The radio broadcast may be heard on AM1280, WNAM or IHeartRadio starting with the Miller Lite Pregame Show at 6:45pm. Wednesday's game is also available to MiLB.TV subscribers.
• Discuss this story on the Midwest League message board...
Midwest League Stories from August 26, 2014
- Perez, Schulz Homer TinCaps into Record Book - Fort Wayne TinCaps
- Kernels Down Bandits 6-1 to Avoid Sweep - Cedar Rapids Kernels
- Loons Win Pitchers' Duel - Great Lakes Loons
- Cougars Tie Franchise Mark with 88th Victory - Kane County Cougars
- Hawks Hold Back Tempest, Calm Whitecaps 5-3 - South Bend Silver Hawks
- Captains Magic Number Down to 1 - Lake County Captains
- Lugs' playoff hopes fade in 3-2 defeat - Lansing Lugnuts
- Whitecaps Fall Again, Swept In South Bend - West Michigan Whitecaps
- Fort Wayne Captures Series Finale from BG - Bowling Green Hot Rods
- Loons Edge Dragons 2-1; Dayton Wildcard Lead Cut to One-Half Game - Dayton Dragons
- River Bandits, Astros Extend Affiliation - Quad Cities River Bandits
- Dragons Playoff Ticket Sales Begin Thursday - Dayton Dragons
- Rattlers take series from Snappers with 6-2 win - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
- Dragons on TV Wednesday - Dayton Dragons
- TinCaps Game Notes -- August 26, 2014 vs. Bowling Green (Game 133/139) - Fort Wayne TinCaps
- Snappers Close Season at Home Labor Day Weekend - Beloit Sky Carp
- Wong Named Midwest League Postseason All-Star - Bowling Green Hot Rods
- Coulter selected for 2014 Midwest League Postseason All-Star Squad - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
- Bandits Fan 18 Kernels, Homer Twice for Win - Quad Cities River Bandits
- Dragons Score Early, Win Key Matchup - Great Lakes Loons
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.
