Rattlers take series opener, 12-9
August 19, 2005 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Lansing Lugnuts News Release
APPLETON - Jeff Clement smacked a three-run homer and drove in five runs as the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers(70-55, 31-24) overcame a pair of big innings by the visiting Lugnuts(59-65, 22-33) and took the opening game in the four-game set by a 12-9 score on Friday evening at Fox Cities Stadium.
Things got off to a bad start for Lansing's starter Chi-Hung Cheng in the first inning. With one out and one on, Cheng allowed a two-run homer to his fellow countryman, Yung Chi Chen, that opened the scoring. Cheng then walked Marshall Hubbard and Chris Colton with two outs and then allowed the three-run homer by Clement to right to make it 5-0.
An RBI single by Clement in the third scored Hubbard and made it 6-0, but the Lugnuts finally figured out Rattler starter Shawn Nottingham in the fourth, scoring five times.
Aaron Mathews collected a sacrifice fly to score David Hicks and cut the lead to 6-1. Later in the inning, Jason Armstrong, Eric Nielsen and Charlie Anderson would pick up two-out hits off reliever Jason Snyder to cut the lead to 6-5, but Steve Grasley(9-0) got Ryan Klosterman to ground out with the bases loaded to end the threat.
Wisconsin chased Cheng in the fifth by getting an RBI single by Chris Colton and a throwing error by David Corrente to allow Colton to score. In 4.2 innings, Cheng allowed seven earned runs on seven hits in getting a no-decision.
Klosterman's three-run double in the top of the sixth tied the score off Grasley and later in the top of the inning, the Lugnut shortstop would steal third and score on a throwing error by Clement, giving the Lugnuts their first lead of the night.
As it turned out, it was the only lead of the night and it didn't last long. Wisconsin rallied with four runs in the bottom of the inning off Jordy Templet(6-6). Hubbard's first RBI of the night put the Rattlers ahead to stay and later Colton and Clement would also add run producing hits.
Jon Lockwood worked the final three innings of the contest for Wisconsin to earn his second save. Dewon Day came behind Templet and worked 2.1 scoreless frames while walking one and hitting one.
Armstrong was 3-6 and Klosterman went 2-5 with three RBI to help pace the Lansing attack in a losing effort. With the loss and Southwest Michigan's 1-0, 16-inning win in Battle Creek, the Lugnuts dropped seven games behind the Devil Rays and sees its elimination number dip to nine.
The Lugnuts will aim to drop their four-game losing streak tomorrow night at 8:05 p.m. as right hander Po-Hsuan Keng(3-5) will go for the Lugnuts. Wisconsin counters with right hander Mark Lowe(6-4).
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