Wisconsin holds on for a win in Peoria
July 13, 2006 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers News Release
PEORIA, IL -- The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers accomplished two things they had not done since early in the 2006 season with a their 6-4 win over the Peoria Chiefs Thursday night at O'Brien Field. Winning pitcher Jose Escalona snapped a personal seven game losing streak with 5-1/3 solid innings. Luis Valbuena and Jeff Flaig each drove in two runs to lead the offense.
The win was the second straight road win for the Rattlers -- the first time they have done that since May 5-6. The win also guaranteed the Rattlers a series win in the three game set with the Chiefs -- the first series win for the Rattlers since they took two out of three from the Beloit Snappers at Pohlman Field in early April
Robby Hudson put the Rattlers up 1-0 with a two-out solo home run in the top of the third inning.
In the fourth inning, Wisconsin (33-58 overall, 6-15 second half) struck again with two outs and nobody on base. The Rattlers loaded the bases on a pair of walks and a single off Jesus Yepez. Then, Flaig doubled off the third base bag to drive in two runs and put the Rattlers up 3-0.
Peoria (52-38, 11-10) rallied for two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning with two outs. Kyle Reynolds scored all the way from first base on a throwing error by third baseman Ron Garth. Then, Jesus Valdez came through with his third hit of the night, an RBI single to left to get the Chiefs to within 3-2.
Valbuena gave the Rattlers a little insurance with a two-out, two-run single in the top of the seventh inning. Eddy Hernandez made it 6-2 with a sacrifice fly in the top of the eighth.
It looked lied the Rattlers would cruise to an easy win, but the Chiefs had other ideas in the bottom of the ninth.
They loaded the bases with one out against Brian Cappel. An RBI single by Jesus Valdez, his fifth hit of the night, pulled the Chiefs to within 6-3. Ryan Norwood was next and his single drove in another run to make the score 6-4 and keep the bases loaded. But, Cappel got Mark Reed to ground into a game-ending 4-6-3 double play.
Escalona got a win for the first time since May 1. Since that victory, he had been 0-7 with five no decisions...until tonight. He struck out six, walked one, and gave up no earned runs.
The final game of the three game series is set for Friday night. Marwin Vega (3-5, 5.89ERA) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers. Mitch Atkins (7-3, 2.72ERA) is set to start for the Chiefs. Game time is 7:00pm.
Midwest League Stories from July 13, 2006
- Bees rally falls short - Burlington Bees
- LumberKings cloud up and rain on Kernels, 14-5 - Cedar Rapids Kernels
- Devil Rays home winning streak ends - Southwest Michigan Devil Rays
- Wisconsin holds on for a win in Peoria - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
- Chiefs rally in ninth, but fall 6-4 - Peoria Chiefs
- Omura, Lansford help Cougars beat Bees - Kane County Cougars
- Swing strand ten as Beloit snaps back - Quad Cities River Bandits
- Silver Hawks rally falls short - South Bend Silver Hawks
- Dragons lead early, rally late to beat South Bend, 6-4 - Dayton Dragons
- Maybin, Whitecaps blast past Devil Rays - West Michigan Whitecaps
- Wizards bounce back against Lansing - Lansing Lugnuts
- McConnell to Idaho Falls, Pena Joins Bees - Burlington Bees
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