MWL1 Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

Rattlers win second straight with 2-1 victory at Peoria

Published on August 21, 2015 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers News Release


PEORIA, IL - The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers edged the Peoria Chiefs 2-1 Friday night at Dozer Park. Cody Ponce, Gian Rizzo, and David Burkhalter combined to hold the Chiefs to one run while Luis Aviles and Elvis Rubio provided all the defense the Rattlers would need.

Aviles gave Wisconsin (42-80 overall, 19-33 second half) the lead in the top of the third inning with a leadoff home run. The homer was the first by a Timber Rattlers player on the road since July 22 when Aviles homered at Cedar Rapids. That homerless stretch spanned twelve road games.

Peoria (67-54, 34-19) tied the game in the bottom of the fourth inning. Oscar Mercado doubled to start the inning for the first hit off Ponce. Paul DeJong followed with a single and Mercado scored to tie the game.

Wisconsin went back in front in the top of the fifth. Sthervin Matos reached on an error and Blake Allemand drew a walk. Rubio came through with a sharp single to center and Matos raced home with the run to put the Rattlers up 2-1.

Ponce, the Timber Rattlers starting pitcher, went 5-1/3 innings and held the Chiefs to one run on four hits while striking out four. Rizzo took over with one out and in the bottom of the sixth and quickly got the final two outs of the frame to maintain the lead.

Burkhalter relieved Rizzo to start the bottom of the seventh. Burkhalter pitched around a two-out double in the seventh and a one-out single in the eighth to hold Wisconsin's slim margin. Rubio aided the cause with an excellent running catch in right-center for the final out of the eighth inning. The right-hander nailed down his team-leading sixth save with a 1-2-3 ninth inning.

The Timber Rattlers are 7-6 in thirteen games against the Chiefs this season, including 2-2 at Dozer Park.

Game two of the series is scheduled for Saturday night at Dozer Park. Jon Perrin (1-4, 3.89) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers. Austin Gomber (13-3, 2.93) is set to start for the Chiefs. Game time is 6:30pm.

The radio broadcast of Saturday's game is on AM1280, WNAM starting with the Miller Lite Pregame Show at 6:10pm. The broadcast is also available on Tune In Radio and IHeartRadio.

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Midwest League Stories from August 21, 2015


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