Rattlers throw one away
May 29, 2006 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers News Release
BURLINGTON, IA -- The Burlington Bees got a little revenge on the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers. Last Sunday, the Rattlers beat the Bees 4-3 in eleven innings at Fox Cities Stadium. Monday night at Community Field the Bees defeated the Rattlers 3-2 in ten innings. The Rattlers misfired on a great chance to take the lead in the top of the tenth and the winning run scored on a throwing error in the bottom of the tenth.
The starting pitchers were very good. Rattler starter Paul Fagan pitched 7-1/3 innings and gave up just five hits. Burlington starter Michael Penn went seven innings and allowed just three hits.
Burlington (24-24) took the early lead on an unearned run. Jose Duarte lead off the inning and wound up on second base when Fagan threw wildly to first on a tapper back to the mound. Valentino Arce moved Duarte to third with a grounder to the right side of the Rattler. Josh Johnson punched a single into center for an RBI and a 1-0 lead.
The Rattlers (19-31) manufactured a run to tie the game in the top of the sixth. Ron Garth singled, stole second, and went to third on a wild pitch by Penn. Casey Craig's sacrifice fly to left sent Garth home to tie the game.
The score remained 1-1 until the bottom of the eighth. Fagan walked Johnson to start the inning and a sacrifice bunt by Chris McConnell moved Johnson into scoring position and that was all for Fagan.
Rattler reliever Edgar Guaramato relieved Fagan and promptly gave up an RBI double to Mario Lisson and Burlington had a 2-1 lead.
Wisconsin managed to tie the game again in the top of the ninth. Casey Craig singled to start the frame against Gilbert de la Vara. Craig stole second with one out and went to third on a wild pitch. The Bees drew the infield in to try and cut down Craig at the plate, but Luis Valbuena's high chopper foiled that strategy. The only play was to first and Craig crossed the plate to make the score 2-2.
The Rattlers had a prime scoring opportunity against de la Vara in the tenth. Michael Saunders lead off the inning with a triple. Curtis Ledbetter came to the plate as a pinch hitter, but de la Vara struck him out. Eddy Hernandez was next and took three straight balls from de la Vara for a 3-0 count with the Bees infield drawn in again for a play at the plate.
Hernandez went after that 3-0 pitch and grounded the ball right to Johnson at second. Saunders broke for the plate on contact, but the throw beat him by ten feet. The only hope for Saunders was to knock the ball out of catcher JP Lowen's mitt. Saunders crashed into Lowen, knocking him to the ground. Lowen held on to the ball for the second out. The Bees recorded the final out and went to work in their half of the tenth.
McConnell singled off Ruben Flores and Lisson sacrificed him into scoring position. Miguel Vega was next and sent a weak high hopper up the third baseline. Flores charged over and made a clean pick on the ball, but fired it into right field for an error and McConnell charged home with the winning run.
Game two of the series is Tuesday night. Harold Williams (0-1, 2.45ERA) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Rattlers. Matt Kniginyzky (5-2, 2.98ERA) is the scheduled starter for the Bees. Game time is 7:00pm.
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