Snappers Take First Game of Series with a Walk-Off

Beloit, Wisc. - The Beloit Snappers came back from a 2-run deficit to take a 3-2 victory over the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers behind a walk-off single by Melvin Mercedes in the bottom of the ninth inning. 

With the game tied at two heading into the bottom of the ninth, the Snappers were able to put runners in scoring position to enable Mercedes' walk-off single. Sam Roberts, the winning run, was walked to begin the inning and Phil Pohl laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance Roberts to second base. 

Roberts then scrambled to third base on a wild pitch by Timber Rattler pitcher Anthony Banda and scored on the next at-bat on Mercedes' groundball single. 

Mercedes led a spirited defensive effort by the Snappers in addition to his game-winning RBI single. The New York native made throw after throw from his shortstop position to keep the Timber Rattlers off the scoreboard through the first portion of the game. 

Beloit's Dylan Covey and Wisconsin's Victor Diaz were in the midst of a pitcher's duel as they combined for six scoreless innings and only four hits until both teams put up runs in the seventh inning.

Diaz's strong outing was his second consecutive as he extended his scoreless inning streak to 15 and 1/3 innings.

The only real offensive threat in the first six innings came in the third when Beloit's Boog Powell appeared to hit a deep line drive to center field. Powell was robbed by a spectacular diving catch by Wisconsin centerfielder Johnny Davis however, and the scoreless game continued until the seventh inning. 

The Timber Rattlers snapped the scoreless outing in the seventh inning as David Denson drove in a run and Rafael Neda doubled to left field to score another run. The two runs came against Covey, which snapped a 13-inning scoreless streak for the Snapper pitcher. 

The Snappers answered Wisconsin's production in the bottom of the seventh inning as Beloit put up two runs of its own, but stranded three runners. 

Beloit's Luis Baez hit an RBI double to left field to score BA Vollmuth to start the scoring in the inning. Phil Pohl laid down a sacrifice bunt to score Baez to tie the game at two. 

The Snappers had a chance to break the tie and take a lead with the bases loaded and two outs, but a Jaycob Brugman groundout ended the seventh inning with the game tied. 

The Snappers and Timber Rattlers continue their series Friday night at 6:30 p.m. before concluding the series at Miller Park at 6:10 on Saturday.