Helisek shuts down Wisconsin

PEORIA, IL - Kyle Helisek enjoys pitching against the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers. In April, the lefty allowed one run over 5-1/3 innings and struck out four. On Saturday night at Dozer Park, he tossed seven shutout innings and struck out seven to lead the Peoria Chiefs to a 6-0 win over Wisconsin. The Rattlers only got one runner to third base in the game as they lost their second straight game.

The Chiefs (24-22) got on the scoreboard first. Patrick Wisdom doubled with one out in the second inning. He went to third on a passed ball. Carson Kelly singled with two outs to drive in Wisdom for a 1-0 lead.

Peoria went up 2-0 on a Wisconsin miscue. Ildemaro Vargas doubled with one out. Alex Mejia was next and he sent a grounder into the hole at short. Shortstop Orlando Arcia tried to throw on the run to third to get Vargas, but the throw was wild and Vargas scored.

The Chiefs went up 3-0 in the fourth inning with more aid from the Wisconsin defense. Michael Swinson reached on an error, stole second, and went to third on a passed ball. Adam Ehrlich drove in Swinson with an RBI grounder.

The Timber Rattlers (21-23) had chances early. They had a pair of hits in the first inning and a pair of walks in the third inning. But, Helisek got into a groove after the second walk. He set down eleven in a row from the third inning to the seventh. Adam Giacalone and Parker Berberet broke up the streak with consecutive singles with one out in the top of the seventh. But, Helisek got a popup and a strikeout to end the Wisconsin rally. 

Helisek went seven innings, allowed four hits, and walked two to go along with his seven strikeouts for his second win over the Timber Rattlers in 2013. He is now 4-1 on the season.

The Chiefs pulled away in the bottom of the seventh. There were two outs and none on when reliever Martin Viramontes walked the next three batters to load the bases. Wisdom singled to left on a 3-2 pitch to drive in two runs. Michael Swinson was next and he would single on a 3-2 pitch to drive in another run for a 6-0 lead.

The Rattlers got a hit from Orlando Arcia in the top of the eighth inning against reliever Michael Aldrete, but could make nothing of it. Aldrete closed out Wisconsin with a 1-2-3 ninth.

Game two of the series is Sunday night at Dozer Park. Damien Magnifico (4-0, 4.91) is on the hill for the Timber Rattlers as their starting pitcher on Sunday. Peoria plans to send Joe Cuda (2-2, 6.07) to the mound. Game time is 6:30pm. Tune in for the broadcast on AM1280, WNAM or timberrattlers.com starting with the Miller Lite Pregame Show at 6:10pm.

WP: Kyle Helisek (4-1)
LP: Tyler Wagner (4-3)

TIME: 2:35
ATTN: 1,710