Wisconsin works overtime for 3-2 win
Published on April 13, 2005 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers News Release
FOX CITIES STADIUM -- Matt Tuiasosopo hit a game winning home run in the bottom of the eleventh inning to lead the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers to a 3-2 win over the Swing of the Quad Cities Wednesday afternoon. Tuiasosopo had knocked in a run with a single in the bottom of the eighth to tie the game. Craig James pitched 2-2/3 innings of scoreless relief for the win.
The starting pitchers -- Mark Lowe for Wisconsin and Dennis Dove for the Swing -- matched zeroes for the first five innings.
The Swing (1-5) got on the board with two unearned runs in the top of the sixth. Matt Shepherd reached on a one-out error by Tuiasosopo and moved to second after Wes Swackhamer drew a walk. Mike Ferris laced an RBI single into left-center to make it 1-0. It looked like Lowe would get out of the inning without further damage, but a potential inning ending double play went awry when Tuiasosopo's throw to first went wild and Swackhamer scored on the error to make the score 2-0.
Wisconsin (5-1) got one run back in the bottom of the seventh. Brian Schweiger drove in a run with a two-out double off Swing reliever Kevin Ool. Jaymes Torres came on to get the final out of the inning. Then, Tuiasosopo tied the game in the eighth with his first clutch hit of the day.
Quad Cities had their chances in the ninth, tenth, and eleventh innings as they got the lead-off batter aboard in all three innings. In two of the innings the Swing got the go ahead run to third base. James worked his way out of each jam to keep the game tied and to set the stage for Tuiasosopo in the bottom of the eleventh.
Michael Gross left a 2-2 pitch out over the plate and Tuiasosopo drove the ball through a strong headwind over the leftfield wall for his first homer as a Rattler and the game winner.
The win for Wisconsin was their fourth straight.
The Rattlers close their season opening homestand on Thursday night with one more game against the Swing. Aaron Jensen (0-1, 2.25ERA) is the scheduled starting pitcher for Wisconsin. Quad Cities will counter with Mike Parisi (0-1, 8.44ERA). Game time is 6:35pm.
Midwest League Stories from April 13, 2005
- Dragons nab first 2005 home victory in extra innings - Dayton Dragons
- Bees Drop Home Opener to Cedar Rapids - Burlington Bees
- Sandoval spoils Whitecaps comeback - West Michigan Whitecaps
- Corrente cashes in as Lugnuts win in extra innings - Lansing Lugnuts
- Cougars Drop Two in Home Opener - Kane County Cougars
- Wisconsin works overtime for 3-2 win - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
- Swing drop heartbreaker in 11 - Quad Cities River Bandits
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