South Bend grabs series lead
September 13, 2005 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers News Release
SOUTH BEND, IN -- The South Bend Silver Hawks defeated the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers 6-4 in Game One of the best-of-five Midwest League Championship Series Tuesday night at Coveleski Regional Stadium. Mark Reynolds and Emilio Bonifacio each homered for the Hawks to help build an early lead that Wisconsin could not erase. South Bend starting pitcher Kellen Raab scattered nine hits over five innings and got the win.
Wisconsin got out to an early lead thanks to some shaky defense by the Silver Hawks. Brent Johnson reached on an error by shortstop Alberto Gonzalez. Oswaldo Navarro lined the next pitch to Gonzalez, but the throw to first to double up Johnson was wild and Johnson raced to third base. After a walk put runners at the corners, Mike Wilson sent a grounder to third for what should have been an inning ending double play, but it was booted for the third error of the inning and Johnson scored.
The Silver Hawks tied the game in the bottom of the first inning. Bonifacio drew a walk to lead off the inning. He was still at first base with two out. Then, Bonifacio stole second, went to third on a wild pitch, and scored on a single by Cesar Nicolas.
South Bend took their first lead of the game on a one-out, solo homer by Reynolds in the second inning. Bonifacio was at the plate with a runner at first with two outs later in the inning and lined a homer to left. Bonifacio had homered just once in the regular season and his first post-season blast put the Hawks up 4-1.
The Rattlers loaded the bases in the top of the third, but failed to score and the Hawks made Wisconsin pay. Agustin Murillo tripled in a run in the bottom of the third inning and South Bend pushed their lead to 5-1.
Matt Tuiasosopo started the Rattler fourth with a home run. Oswaldo Navarro singled in another run later in the inning to get cut the Silver Hawk lead to 5-3. Once again, the Rattler loaded the bases, but could not score again in the inning.
Wisconsin took advantage of the fourth South Bend error of the night to get to within 5-4 in the top of the sixth. Johnson had reached to start the inning with an infield single for his third hit of the night, but was still there with two out. Wilson chopped a single into right field and Carlos Gonzales misplayed the ball allowing it to get by him to the wall and Johnson scored easily.
But, South Bend padded their lead in the seventh. Gonzales made up for his error by driving in a run with a double to rightcenter for a 6-4 South Bend lead.
Matt Elliott, who had 32 saves during the regular season, pitched a 1-2-3 ninth to give the Silver Hawks a 1-0 series lead.
Game Two of the Midwest League Championship Series is Wednesday night. Aaron Jensen, who won ten games during the regular season, gets the ball for Wisconsin. Ross Ohlendorf, who won eleven games in the regular season, is scheduled to start for South Bend. Game time is 7:00pm.
Game Three will be played at Fox Cities Stadium on Thursday, September 15 at 6:35pm. It will be a "Bang for Your Buck" Night with soda, hot dogs, and beer available for just $1. Tickets are available for Game Three at the Timber Rattler Ticket Office, by calling 733-4152 or 1-800-WI-TIMBER, and on-line at http://www.timberrattlers.com. The Ticket Office opens at 9:00am on Wednesday morning.
Midwest League Stories from September 13, 2005
- Hawks open championship series with win - South Bend Silver Hawks
- South Bend grabs series lead - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
- Kernels release 2006 schedule - Cedar Rapids Kernels
- Devil Rays draw 107,405 fans in 2005 - Southwest Michigan Devil Rays
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