MWL1 Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

Wisconsin wins a wild one to take over first place

Published on May 29, 2005 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers News Release


DAVENPORT, IA -- The Wisconsin Timber Rattler beat the Swing of the Quad Cities 9-7 Sunday night at John O'Donnell Stadium to take over first place in the Western Division of the Midwest League. Wisconsin starter Mumba Rivera gave up six runs on six hits, but moved his record to 7-0. Rattler closer Craig James pitched the final 2-2/3 innings for his sixth save.

Quad Cities (28-21) stole a run in both halves of the first inning. Swing left fielder Wes Swackhamer jumped at the wall to rob Rattler lead-off batter Oswaldo Navarro of a home run in the top of the first inning.

In the bottom of the first, Quad Cities had Mike Ferris at first and Matt Shepherd at third with two out. Ferris broke for second and stayed in a rundown long enough for Shepherd to break for the plate and score the first run of the game.

In the top of the second, the Rattlers (29-21) took charge. They would load the bases with one out. Brent Johnson's flyball to right was dropped by Rick Ankiel to allow the tying run to score and the bases to remain loaded. Jack Arroyo lined a triple to right-center that drove in three runs to put the Rattlers in front 4-1. Navarro followed with an RBI single to make the score 5-1 Wisconsin.

The Rattlers added a run in the top of the third on a two-out RBI double by Sebastien Boucher for a 6-1 lead.

Ankiel started the Swing fourth inning with a long home run to right field off Rivera. Later in the inning, an RBI double by Jake Mullinax pulled Quad Cities to within 6-3.

Asdrubal Cabrera led off the Rattler fifth inning with his third home run of the season. Yung Chi Chen tripled with one out and scored on a double by Omar Falcon to get the Rattlers a five run lead back.

In the sixth inning, both teams loaded the bases with nobody out. The Rattlers didn't score. The Swing did. Rivera walked the lead-off batter, gave up a double, and walked the third batter of the inning before leaving the game. Rattler reliever Chad Fillinger fell behind Mullinax 2-0 and the Swing third baseman drilled a grand slam to leftcenter and make the score 8-7.

Wisconsin loaded the bases with no outs again in the top of the seventh inning, but only scored one run. Chen scored from third when Jarrett Hoffpauir bobbled a grounder to put the Rattlers up 9-7.

Quad Cities put runners at first and second with one out in their half of the seventh. James relieved Fillinger and got the next two outs to keep the Rattlers in front.

James worked a 1-2-3 eighth inning. But, in the ninth, the Swing had runners at first and second with two outs. James got Derry Hammond looking at strike three to end the game and push the Rattlers 1/2 game in front of the Swing in the Western Division.

Game four of the series is Monday afternoon. Mark Lowe (3-3, 5.11ERA) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers. Matt Scherer (2-2, 3.72ERA) is slated to start for the Swing. Game time on Memorial Day is 2:00pm.

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Midwest League Stories from May 29, 2005


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