Rattlers storm back to beat Bees

BURLINGTON, IA - The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers used a six-run fourth inning to erase a deficit and go on to defeat the Burlington Bees 8-4 in game one of a doubleheader on Friday night at Community Field. The game was the first game of the second half for both teams.

Wisconsin (37-33 overall, 1-0 second half) grabbed the early lead with two runs in the first inning against Bees starting pitcher Ryan Etsell. Omar Garcia doubled with one out. Michael Ratterree followed with an RBI single. Clint Coulter was next and he doubled to the wall in right-center to put runners on second and third. Taylor Brennan drove in Ratterree with a sacrifice fly to center and the Rattlers were up 2-0.

Burlington (38-32, 0-1) stormed back against Rattlers starting pitcher Anthony Banda with three runs in the bottom of the first. Kody Eaves drew a leadoff walk. Angel Rosa doubled to drive in Eaves. A single by Mike Fish scored Rosa with the tying run. Fish would score later in the inning on a wild pitch by Banda and the Bees were up 3-2.

Coulter tied the game with a leadoff home run in the top of the fourth. The homer was the twelfth of the season for Coulter and it gave the Rattlers offense a jump start.

Brennan and Francisco Castillo followed with singles. Then, Garrett Cooper launched a long home run to center. The three-run shot by Cooper put the Rattlers up 6-3 and knocked Bees starter Ryan Estell out of the game.

Burlington reliever Ben Carlson came into the game and retired the first two batters he faced. But, the rally restarted with consecutive singles by Johnny Davis and Garcia. Ratterree blooped in a single to right to knock in Davis. Coulter collected his second hit of the inning - and third of the game - with an RBI single to drive in Garcia and the Rattlers were up 8-3.

Banda regrouped after the first inning and didn't allow another run through his five total innings of work. Banda matched his professional single game high for strikeouts with eight.

Trevor Seidenberger tossed the final two innings out of the Rattlers bullpen. Ryan Dalton hit a leadoff homer in the bottom of the seventh inning to account for the final run of the game.

HOME RUNS:
WIS:
Clint Coulter (12^th, 0 on in 4^th inning off Ryan Etsell, 0 out)
Garrett Cooper (1^st, 2 on in 4^th inning off Ryan Etsell, 0 out)

BUR:
Ryan Dalton (3^rd, 0 on in 7^th inning off Trevor Seidenberger, 0 out)

WP: Anthony Banda (3-5)
LP: Ryan Etsell (4-3)

TIME: 2:04