Rattlers Win in Lucky Thirteenth
Published on August 3, 2007 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers News Release
FORT WAYNE, IN -- Alex Liddi drove in the go ahead run with a two-out single in the top of the thirteenth inning and the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers beat the Fort Wayne Wizards 9-8 in a game of wild swings of momentum Friday night at Memorial Stadium. Joe Kantakevich pitched four scoreless innings out of the Timber Rattler bullpen to pick up the win.
Rattler starting pitcher Nolan Gallagher got in trouble in the bottom of the first a pair of walks and a single put the first three Wizards to bat on the bases. But, Gallagher got out of the inning without a run scoring.
Reed Eastley gave the Rattlers (13-26 second half, 35-72 overall) the lead with a solo homer to right to start the second inning.
Gallagher worked around a pair of walks in the bottom of the second inning, but could not hold off Fort Wayne (15-24, 46-62) in the third. Cedric Hunter, who had four hits for the Wizards, singled to start the inning. Hunt followed with a homer to left that just made it over the wall. But, it was enough to give the Wizards a 2-1 lead.
Gallagher walked a pair of batters with one out in the bottom of the fourth inning to give him six in 3-1/3 innings. Rollie Gibson relieved him and got out of the inning to keep the deficit at one run.
Gavin Dickey lined a homer to left to start the fifth inning and tie the game. But, the tie did not last long.
Gibson walked the leadoff batter in the bottom of the fifth. Tom King followed with a double. Jon Schemmel singled to right to drive in the go ahead run. Gibson struck out the next batter for the first out. Reliever Justin Souza relieved Gibson and promptly gave up an RBI single to Keith Conlon. Luis Martinez was next and the .088 hitter lined a two-run single into leftcenter for a 6-2 lead.
The Rattlers charged back in the top of the sixth. Ron Garth started the inning with the third Wisconsin home run of the game. A pair of walks with one out spelled the end of the night for Fort Wayne starter Drew Miller. Aaron Breit entered the game and Joe White doubled to right to knock in a run. Jamie McOwen's sacrifice fly pulled the Rattlers to within 6-5.
In the seventh, Wisconsin retook the lead with a three run rally. Calvin Beamon singled, took second when second baseman Jodam Rivera dropped a throw on a stolen base attempt for an error, and went to third on a grounder. Liddi knocked in Beamon with a sacrifice fly to tie the game 6-6. Then, Eastley walked and Dickey reached on an error. Derek McDaid relieved Aaron Breit to face White. McDaid got ahead of White 0-2, but White slammed another double off the wall in right. This one scored two runs and put the Rattlers up 8-6. But, this lead would not last.
Harold Williams relieved Souza for the bottom of the seventh and struck out the first batter he faced. Then, Williams walked three consecutive batters to load the bases. Williams got a strikeout for out number two. But, Hunter lined a two-run single to center and the game was tied 8-8.
The teams traded defensive gems over the next two half innings. Schemmel was at second with two outs in the bottom of the eighth. Rivera sent a slow roller to short. Juan Diaz' throw to first was late and Schemmel kept coming around third. White's throw to the plate was in time and Israel Nunez held on to the ball after Schemmel crashed into him for the third out.
In the top of the ninth, Eastley reached on an error to start the inning against Wizard closer RJ Rodriguez. A sacrifice bunt moved him to second. White singled to center, but Hunter threw a strike to the plate and Eastley was out trying to score. The inning ended on a strikeout and the game stayed tied.
In the thirteenth, Juan Diaz singled and was sacrificed to second. Liddi stepped up with two outs and singled to left on a 1-2 pitch to drive in Diaz and give the Rattlers a 9-8 lead.
Kantakevich worked around a leadoff walk to Hunter and got the final three outs for his third win of the season.
Wisconsin and Fort Wayne meet in game two of the series on Saturday night. Kyle Parker (4-8, 2.91) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers. Brandon Gomes (2-4, 5.16) is slated to start for the Wizards. Game time is 6:00pm CDT.
Midwest League Stories from August 3, 2007
- Walks, Big Sixth Inning Hurt Loons in 8-1 Loss - Great Lakes Loons
- Rattlers Win in Lucky Thirteenth - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
- Chiefs Upend Lansing, 6-2 - Lansing Lugnuts
- Bullpen Collapse Squashes Whitecaps - West Michigan Whitecaps
- Cougars Roll to Fourth Straight Win - Kane County Cougars
- Eight-Run Eighth Highlights Swing Rally - Quad Cities River Bandits
- Chiefs Two-Hit Lansing in 6-2 Win - Peoria Chiefs
- Snappers Win Battle of Top Two MWL Teams 6-2 - Dayton Dragons
- American Celebration Night - Dayton Dragons
- Guerrero Heads off to Louisville - Dayton Dragons
- Sixth-Rounder Fills Out Swing Roster - Quad Cities River Bandits
- Bullpen changes in Fort Wayne - Fort Wayne TinCaps
- Wizards to honor Norwell Baseball Team - Fort Wayne TinCaps
- Swing Lose Game, First Place, After 14 Inning Affair - Quad Cities River Bandits
- Lugnuts take series finale, 6-4 - Cedar Rapids Kernels
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