Rattlers let one slip away in 6-4 loss to Burlington
GRAND CHUTE, WI - The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers collected a season-high 14 hits on Thursday night against the Burlington Bees at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium. However, the Rattlers stranded a season-high 13 runners and struck out a season-high 18 times in a 6-4 loss to the Bees.
Wisconsin starting pitcher Zach Hirsch was sharp early as he retired the first ten batters he faces. However, the offense could not get him the lead.
The Timber Rattlers (1-7) had a runner at second with one out in the first and loaded the bases in both the second and third innings. But, Wisconsin could not score a run against Burlington starter Jeremy Rhoades.
The Bees (5-3) took the lead in the top of the fourth. Caleb Adams tripled with one out for the first hit off Hirsch. Andrew Daniel followed with a double to knock in Adams. Daniel was thrown out trying to steal third for the second out. Zach Houchins hit the next pitch for a solo homer and a 2-0 lead.
Dustin DeMuth started the Wisconsin fifth inning with a single off reliever Jake Jewell. David Denson was next and he lined a homer over the 16'-high wall in center to tie the game 2-2.
Elvis Rubio kept the rally going for the Rattlers as he singled and took second on an error. He went to third on a groundout, but was left standing on third as the inning ended.
Hirsch worked a 1-2-3 sixth inning and turned over the game to the bullpen.
Oshkosh native Josh Uhen entered the tie game to start the top of the seventh and gave up a double down the first base line to Houchins to start the inning. Fran Whitten blooped in a single to left and the Bees had runners at the corners. A grounder off the bat of Wade Wass was misplayed for an error. That let Houchins score and Whitten to take third base. Natanael Delgado singled to left and Whitten scored for a 4-2 lead.
Uhen got the next two outs. Then, Jake Yacinich doubled to drive in both runners and the Rattlers were down 6-2.
In the bottom of the eighth, Brandon Diaz doubled and took third on an error to start the inning against Jonah Wesley, the third Burlington pitcher of the game. Greg McCall drove in Diaz with a single. Jake Gatewood collected his third hit of the game with a single to right that brought the tying run to the plate. It also brought Eduardo Paredes out of the Burlington bullpen.
Paredes got the first two outs with a strikeout. DeMuth kept hope alive with a single to left to score McCall and the Rattlers were within two. But, Paredes struck out Denson to end the inning.
In the bottom of the ninth, Rubio, who had three hits in the game, was hit by a pitch. Paredes proceeded to strike out the next three batters to end the game.
The final thirteen outs recorded by Burlington pitching in the game were via the strikeout.
The final game of Wisconsin's homestand is Friday night against the Bees. David Burkhalter (0-1) is the scheduled starting pitcher for the Timber Rattlers with Kodi Medeiros (0-0), the #1 pick of the Brewers in the 2014 draft, scheduled to pitch in relief. Burlington will counter with Keynan Middleton (0-0). Game time is 6:35pm.
The first 500 fans to attend this game will receive a sharp looking Timber Rattlers scarf courtesy of Goodwill. Friday is also the first North Shore Bank Family Night of the season with lots of fun for the whole family. Children 14 and under may participate in Kids Run the Bases thanks to Molina Healthcare after the game.
If you can't make it out to the ballpark on Friday night, there are a myriad of ways to catch the action.
MyNEW 32's Sports Showdown will have the game on television starting at 6:30pm. The radio broadcast is on AM1280, WNAM starting with the Miller Lite Pregame Show at 6:15pm. The game is also available on TuneIn Radio and MiLB.TV.
HOME RUNS:
BUR:
Zach Houchins (1st, 0 on in 4th inning off Zach Hirsch, 2 out)
WIS:
David Denson (1st, 1 on in 5th inning off Jake Jewell, 0 out)
WP: Jake Jewell (1-0)
LP: Josh Uhen (0-1)
SAVE: Eduardo Paredes
TIME: 2:55
ATTN: 1,405