Vega and Rattlers get back on track
Published on June 28, 2006 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers News Release
FOX CITIES STADIUM -- Curtis Ledbetter drove in a pair of runs and pitcher Marwin Vega returned to his early season form as the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers beat the Peoria Chiefs 5-1 Wednesday. The Rattlers bounced back from squandering a 4-0 lead in Tuesday's game to beat the Chiefs and salvage a game in the three game set with Peoria.
The Chiefs (45-31 overall, 4-3 second half) scored first. A two-out RBI single by Kyle Reynolds in the top of the first inning made it 1-0 Chiefs.
Wisconsin (29-48, 2-5) answered with a two-out RBI single by Ledbetter in the bottom of the first.
The score remained tied because of good pitching by both starters. Vega kept the Chiefs off the board for the rest of stint on the mound. Jesus Yepez retired nine in a row after allowing a one out single in the bottom of the second.
But, it was Yepez who blinked first. Kevin Reynolds broke that streak of nine in a row with a one out double in the fifth. Reynolds went to third on a wild pitch. A sacrifice fly by Ron Garth put the Rattlers up 2-1.
Vega did get into trouble in the top of the seventh. Dylan Johnston got to third with the tying run and one out. Robinson Chirinos sent a grounder to third and Johnston broke for the plate. The throw from Garth to the plate cut down Johnston to keep the tying run from scoring. Roman Martinez relieved Vega and got the final out of the inning.
Vega, who was 1-1 with a 1.56 ERA in his first three starts for the Rattlers, was sent down to extended spring training after back-to-back poor outings in his fourth and fifth starts. He did not make it out of the third inning in either of his two starts since returning to the team before the All-Star break. But, he was back on form today. Vega gave up six hits, walked one, and struck out five for his second win of the year.
The Rattler bats went back to work in the bottom of the seventh. Luis Valbuena knocked in a run with a single. Johan Limonta followed with an RBI single. Ledbetter drove in his second run of the game with a sacrifice fly to give Wisconsin a 5-1 lead.
Martinez pitched a perfect eighth inning and David Asher finished off the Chiefs with a 1-2-3 ninth.
The Rattlers begins an eight game road trip on Thursday night with a game against the West Michigan Whitecaps at Fifth Third Ballpark. Paul Fagan (3-8, 4.30ERA) gets the ball for Wisconsin. The Caps will send Luke French (6-4, 3.40ERA) to the hill. Game time is 6:00pm CDT.
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