MWL1 Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

Wisconsin lets one slip away against the Loons

April 18, 2014 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers News Release


GRAND CHUTE, WI - The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers sent ten men to the plate, collected seven hits, and scored five runs in the first inning on Friday night against the Great Lakes Loons. But, the Rattlers could not hold the lead at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium. The Loons beat the Rattlers 7-6.

Great Lakes (10-5) was up 2-0 after the top of the first inning. Malcolm Holland singled and stole second to start the game. Jacob Scavuzzo was next and he doubled to drive in Holland. Later in the inning Brandon Trinkwon drove in Scavuzzo with an RBI grounder.

Wisconsin (8-6) responded in a big way in the bottom of the first. Johnny Davis started the inning with an infield single and Omar Garcia followed with a single. Chris McFarland drove in both runners with a double and the game was tied.

McFarland took third on a passed ball and scored on an RBI grounder by Clint Coulter. Jose Pena was next and he hit a solo home run to left to make it 4-2 Wisconsin.

Wisconsin made it 5-2 when Paul Eshleman scored from second when Trinkwon committed two errors on a grounder to third off the bat of Angel Ortega.

Great Lakes rallied to go back in front with help from the Timber Rattlers in the top of the fourth.

Webster Rivas reached on an error to start the inning. Jesmuel Valentin followed with a single. One out later Rattlers starter Preston Gainey walked Holland to load the bases. Then, Gainey walked Scavuzzo to force in a run. The Rattlers went to the bullpen and Chris Razo came on for Gainey.

Paul Hoenecke line a pitch right at Paul Eshleman, but the ball deflected off the glove of Wisconsin's first baseman for an error. Two runs scored to tie the game by the time the ball could be recovered.

Joey Curletta put the Loons in front with a single. Trinkwon plated the fifth run of the inning on groundout to second. All five runs in the inning were unearned.

Coulter drew a leadoff walk in the bottom of the seventh inning. He went to second on a wild pitch and took third on a balk. Eshleman drove in Coulter with a two out single and the Rattlers made the score 7-6.

In the eighth, Angel Ortega drew a walk and was sacrificed to second base by Johnny Davis. Omar Garcia sent a weak grounder to short and Trinkwon, the third baseman cut the ball off and threw to first for the out. Ortega tried to go to third on the throw, but Hoenecke fired back to third where shortstop Delvis Morales was waiting for the throw to put the tag on Ortega and complete the 5-3-6 double play.

The Rattlers had a great opportunity in the ninth inning. McFarland drew a leadoff walk against Jacob Rhame, the fourth Loons pitcher of the night. Rhame threw wildly to first on a pickoff attempt and McFarland raced around to third base with the tying run and no outs.

Rhame got Coulter to ground out to third with the infield drawn in on the grass, struck out Pena, and got Taylor Brennan to ground out to end the game.

The teams combined to strand twenty (Great Lakes: 11, Wisconsin: 9) runners to go 6-for-35 (GL: 4-for-18, WI: 2-for-17) with runners in scoring position in the game.

The Loons have won six straight games. The Rattlers are 1-5 in games decided by one run.

The final game of the series with the Loons is Saturday afternoon. Zach Quintana (0-0, 4.00) is scheduled to start for the Rattlers. Great Lakes will counter with Greg Harris (1-0, 4.09). First pitch is scheduled to start at 1:05pm.

Saturday is Girl Scout Day. Area Girl Scout troops will be on hand to celebrate the day with a special ticket discount.

If you can't make it out to the game, tune in for the broadcast on AM1280, WNAM or IHeartRadio starting with the pregame show at 12:45pm. Saturday's game is also available to subscribers of MiLB.TV.

Check out the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers Statistics



Midwest League Stories from April 18, 2014


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