MWL1 Beloit Sky Carp

Santana Squeezes Home Win in Ninth Inning

Published on June 25, 2011 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Beloit Sky Carp News Release


BELOIT, WI - The Snappers provided some high-quality entertainment all the way around at Pohlman Field Friday Night. It started with Twins great Tony Oliva and Twins mascot TC the Bear and ended with a walk-off squeeze bunt from Daniel Santana in the bottom of the ninth to score Lance Ray, which set off the fourth fireworks show of the season.

Normally known for his hit by pitches, Nate Roberts started off the second half of the season the right way as he belted his first home run of the season, a two-run shot in the first inning. In his next at bat, he was promptly hit by a Heath Nichols fastball.

Snappers starting pitcher Ryan O'Rourke had the Cedar Rapids Kernels on lock-down for all of his five innings. He dominated up until the fifth inning when he surrendered an RBI-double to catcher Marcus Nidiffer which scored Justin Bass. It was O'Rourke's only blemish on the night as he only allowed four hits and struck out nine.

The Kernels (0-1) would storm back in the ninth as David Harris connected with a Jose Gonzalez offering, sending a bomb over the centerfield wall to tie the game at two and set-up the dramatics for Santana.

To start the ninth inning, Lance Ray singled to center and moved to third on a Tobias Streich bloop single to left. Then with Santana up, he laid down a bunt in which Kernels pitcher Daniel Tillman fielded and tossed it out of the reach of catcher Nidiffer and with Ray's spectacular slide scored to give the Snappers their first victory of the second half.

Though Gonzalez blew the save in the ninth, he still managed to keep the score tied going into the ninth and ended up picking up his fourth win of the season (4-1, 2.97 ERA). Manuel Soliman and Clinton Dempster pitched the three innings after O'Rourke and before Gonzalez, not allowing a run and giving up only one hit.

For the Snappers (1-0), Nate Roberts finished 2-for-3 and two-RBI including his first home run of the season. Lance Ray also collected two hits (2-for-3) and scored the games winning run.

David Harris was the only Kernel with a multi-hit game as he was 2-for-4 with a home run and an RBI. Marcus Nidiffer finished 1-for-3 a double and an RBI.

The Snappers and Kernels continue their three-game series tomorrow starting at 7:00 PM. Tomorrow is Mac N Cheese Saturday. Fans can bring in a box of Mac N Cheese and get $1 off a regular priced ticket. Be sure to stop at your local Woodman's Market and bring a box of Shur Fine Mac N Cheese to be entered in a season-long drawing for a Snappers prize package. All Mac N Cheese will be donated to the Salvation Army.

It was also be the Snappers fifth fireworks show of the season sponsored by Rock Energy Cooperative. It was be set to a 50's and 60's theme.

The Beloit Snappers are a member of the Midwest League and a Class-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins. For ticket information, contact the Snappers office at 608-362-2272 or visit the website at www.snappersbaseball.com.

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Midwest League Stories from June 25, 2011


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